ANKARA
Turkish officials condemned an Israeli attack on Anadolu Agency office in the Gaza Strip on Saturday.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave a phone call to Anadolu Agency’s Director General Senol Kazanci and wished for quick recovery.
“Targeting of @AnadoluAgency #Gaza office is new example of Israel’s unrestrained aggression,” Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Twitter and added: “#Israeli violence against innocent people w/out distinction is a crime against humanity. Those who encourage Israel are also guilty.
“Will keep defending #Palestinian cause, even if alone.”
“We strongly condemn Israeli attack on Anadolu Agency office in Gaza that intends to cover up its new crimes,” Turkey's Presidential aide Ibrahim Kalin said on Twitter.
“We condemn Israel in the strongest possible terms for targeting a building in the West Bank, in which the @anadoluagency office was located,” Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun also said on Twitter.
“We urge all governments that claim to defend press freedom, including @USEmbassyTurkey, to join us in condemning the Israeli government,” Altun added.
Vice President Fuat Oktay also condemned the attack.
“Israel's reckless attacks against civilians are unacceptable,” Oktay said in a Twitter post.
“I wish a quick recovery for Anadolu Agency family which broadcasts the voice of the oppressed Palestinian people to the world,” Oktay added.
Turkish Interior Minister also wished Anadolu Agency for quick recovery and said that Israeli attack on Anadolu Agency office in Gaza Strip shows how important is Turkey’s standing up for oppressed people and transferring what Israel does to the world.
“We strongly condemn indiscriminate attacks by Israel in Gaza, which have been going on since yesterday, killing or injuring many innocent persons and also targeting Anadolu Agency’s Office,” Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“We call on the international community to take swift action to reduce the tension in the region, which has escalated due to Israel's disproportionate acts,” it added.
I strongly condemn Israel, which continues crimes against humanity, targeting Anadolu Agency office in Gaza by rockets, said Turkey's TRT media head.
“The targeting of the Anadolu Agency office is the attempt to remove witnesses and prepare for the massacres of Israel against Gaza,” Ibrahim Melhem, spokesman for the Palestinian government told Anadolu Agency.
Turkey’s Environment and Urbanization Minister Murat Kurum also wished a quick recovery for Anadolu Agency.
Family, Labor and Social Services Minister Zehra Zumrut Selcuk also condemned the attack.
Turkish Technology and Industry Minister Mustafa Varank, Turkey’s Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan, Vice President Fuat Oktay, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and ruling Justice Development (AK) Party's acting chairman Numan Kurtulmus also gave a phone call to Kazanci and wished for quick recovery.
Turkish Education Minister Ziya Selcuk, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca and Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy also strongly condemned the attack and wished for quick recovery.
AK Party spokesman Omer Celik also condemned the attack and said: ''Anadolu Agency has been the target of Netenyahu's brutal aggression because it has conveyed the biggest drama of humanity in the 21st century, the Israeli atrocities at every point in the Gaza / West Bank, and the cry of humanity that has been blockaded in Palestine.''
“The administration of Netanyahu once again showed that he was openly hostile to the freedom of the press and he was once again brutally buried to the memory of our nation with this last provocative initiative.”
International Media Information Association (UMED), a Turkey-based agency, also condemned the attack and said: “We expect the international community to adopt a common attitude towards Israel which does not hesitate to target even journalists who are under the rule of international law and do their duty.”
Israeli warplanes hit the building with at least five rockets after warning shots, Anadolu Agency’s correspondent in Jerusalem reported.
No injuries or death were reported.
The strikes occurred following reports that two Israeli soldiers had been injured by gunfire near the Gaza-Israel buffer zone on Friday.
At least four Palestinians were killed when Israeli warplanes struck Hamas positions in the blockaded Gaza Strip.
