Erdogan: Palestine will continue to be massacred if Israel is not punished

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Pope Francis that the international community must sanction Israel for its brutal violence against Palestinians, stressing that Palestinians continue to be subjected to massacres as a result of global inaction, Turkish media reported yesterday.

Erdogan, according to TRT, urged the pontiff to keep speaking about the ongoing onslaught against Palestine.

Erdogan told Pope Francis the international community should “teach Israel the deterrent lesson it deserves,” according to a statement issued by the president’s office.

“Erdogan…underlined that Palestinians would continue to be subjected to massacre as long as the international community did not punish Israel – which is committing humanitarian crimes – with sanctions,” the statement said.

READ: Erdogan says UN must act to halt Gaza violence

Erdogan also “emphasised that the continued messages from Pope Francis carried great importance in mobilising the Christian world and international community.”

“Apart from blocking access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, restricting freedom of worship, killing innocent civilians in Palestinian lands, violating human dignity,” Erdogan also said, “Israel is also endangering regional security.”