Erdogan aide: ‘Certain sides do not want Gaza siege lifted’

Irshad Hormuz, senior aide of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, yesterday warned that “certain sides do not want the Gaza siege lifted,” noting that this siege is a “flagrant violation of international conventions and human rights,” Al-Resalah newspaper reported.

Though he did not mention which “sides” he was referring to, Hormuz said political issues in Gaza should not be sorted out through “starving people and imposing a siege”.

“The siege on Gaza, which has been imposed for a decade, is a stab in the back of human rights and is rejected by all civilised values. It is unacceptable to use it to achieve political gains.”

The Turkish official called for international and regional efforts to come together to lift this “uncivilised phenomenon”.

Regarding Turkish-Israeli discussions to restore diplomatic relations, Hormuz stressed that lifting the siege is still a condition, noting that Turkey would never give up exerting efforts to facilitate the life of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

He refused to speak about details regarding the discussions, but reiterated that the issue of lifting the siege on Gaza is not up for negotiation.

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