Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has raised questions about Israel’s order for a total blockade in the Gaza Strip in a retaliatory measure to avenge the surprise attack by Hamas. Israel announced a total siege on Gaza, cutting it off from the supply of water, electricity, food and gas as Netanyahu vowed ‘mighty vengeance’. Erdogan also criticised the United States for moving a carrier strike group closer to Israel, claiming that it would commit ‘serious massacres’ in Gaza.
Erdoğan tweeted, “Gaza is not supplied with water. There is no electricity. We don’t know what the condition of the hospitals is, whether they can work or not. Unfortunately, places of worship, hospitals, and schools are all being hit mercilessly; The world is silent while these are being done. Nobody says anything. What about human rights?
Slamming the US, he said, “What will the aircraft carrier of the U.S. do near Israel, why do they come? What will boats around and aircraft on it will do? They will hit Gaza and around, and take steps for serious massacres there.”
Following the Hamas attack on Saturday, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that the US will be moving a carrier strike group, which includes the USS Gerald R. Ford, closer to Israel.
Israeli warplanes pounded the Gaza Strip after its Hamas militant rulers launched an unprecedented attack on Israel and fighter jets struck more than 200 targets so far.
Israeli troops have killed at least 1,000 Palestinian gunmen who infiltrated from Gaza and reinforced all communities in Israel as hostilities spread to other fronts, Reuters said.
Israel Defence Minister Yoav Gallant had earlier said that authorities would cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel as the country launches a “total” siege on Gaza. “We are putting a complete siege on Gaza … No electricity, no food, no water, no gas – it’s all closed,” Gallant said in a video statement, as per Al Jazeera.