The leader of the Democrat Party (DP) and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth, and Environment Fikri Ataoğlu issued a written message on the first anniversary of Israel’s attacks on Gaza.

Noting that approximately 42,000 people had been massacred in Gaza, including 17,000 children and 11,000 women, and that thousands of Gazans had been forced to flee their homes, Ataoğlu stated that this war was a terrorist attack.

“Israel, like a terrorist organization, is killing people regardless of gender or age—women, children, young people, and the elderly. This crime against humanity will not be forgotten throughout history, and I believe it will not go unpunished” he added.

Expressing that it was imperative for international organizations, especially the United Nations, to put an end to this inhumane terrorist attack as soon as possible, Ataoğlu said, “Israel must receive the punishment it deserves for these terrorist attacks and must withdraw from the occupied Gaza territories as soon as possible.”