Turkish main opposition leader calls world to act on Gaza 'massacre'

ISTANBUL

The leader of Türkiye's main opposition party called for action by the global community over massive civilian deaths in the Gaza Strip and Israeli strikes on hospitals.

"Gaza, cut off from the outside world, is under heavy bombardment... Innocents are being massacred in Gaza, and as if that were not enough, the Israeli prime minister is still targeting hospitals," Kemal Kilicdaroglu, head of the Republican People's Party (CHP), said on X.

"Tonight, the blood of the innocent stains the hands of anyone who remains silent in the face of this massacre. The world will either put an end to this massacre or become complicit; there is no middle ground!" Kilicdaroglu said.

He added: "My prayers are with the oppressed People of Palestine..."

The conflict in Gaza flared up when the Palestinian group Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood — a multi-pronged surprise attack on Oct. 7 that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea, and air.

Hamas said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched a relentless bombardment of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

Nearly 8,800 people have been killed in the conflict, including at least 7,326 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.