Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday accused US President Joe Biden of having what he described as ‘bloody hands’ over his support of Israel in the raging conflict in the Gaza Strip.
The Turkish president’s made the comments in a nationally televised address. It was easily one of his strongest attacks on Biden since his arrival in the White House in January.
Africa Today News understands that Erdogan had spent the past few months trying to mend relations with Washington and reaching out to other Western allies after a year of sharp disputes.
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However, things have taken a different turn now as he lashed out at Biden directly in a furious nationally televised address.
‘You are writing history with your bloody hands,
“You forced us to say this. Because we can not stay silent on this anymore.’ Erdogan maintained.
Erdogan has gained support across the Middle East by championing the Palestinian cause during his 18-year rule.
He accused Israel last week of waging ‘terrorism’ and vowed to rally the world to Gaza’s defence.
‘Today we saw Biden’s signature on weapons sales to Israel,’ Erdogan said on Monday in reference to US media reports of a new arms shipment approved by the Biden administration.
“Palestine territories are awash with persecution, suffering, and blood, like many other territories that lost the peace with the end of the Ottomans. And you are supporting that,” Erdogan told Biden.
He also lashed out at Austria for flying the flag of Israel as a sign of ‘solidarity’ with the Jewish state last week.
‘I condemn Austria for hanging the Israeli terror state’s flag,’ Erdogan said.
‘The Austrian state seems to be trying to make Muslims pay the price for (its role) in the Holocaust.’
Erdogan has been waging a diplomatic campaign to impose sanctions and other punishments on Israel for a military offensive that has claimed the lives of more than 200 Palestinians since May 10.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK