Fidan visits Rafah border, says Israel's aid block 'first phase of genocide'

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan visited the Rafah border on Sunday and stated that preventing aid efforts is Israel's first step toward committing genocide against Palestinians.

"Israel's closing of the border gate, targeting aid convoys, killing humanitarian workers, blocking the evacuation of the sick and civilians, and causing the decay of thousands of trucks' worth of aid materials are crimes against humanity and constitute the first stage of the genocide being conducted on the other side of the border," Fidan said on X.

His remarks came after a visit to Egypt's al-Arish port and Rafah border.

He called for "greater efforts" to ensure that aid reaches Gaza without obstruction or interruption and urged the international community not to remain silent on "Israel's oppression."

He reiterated Türkiye's unwavering support for the Palestinian people, saying, "We will continue to fulfill our moral and humanitarian duties properly."

If this atrocity continues, everyone will be "complicit in it," the Turkish foreign minister warned the world.

"If we do not stop this massacre here together, humanity will be complicit. Therefore, we must strive to provide all possible assistance and increase all pressure on Israel," Fidan told reporters after visiting Egypt's al-Arish Port and Rafah Border.

He also urged the Western world, "especially the US," to "break this silence," warning that "otherwise, they will continue to be complicit in the ongoing genocide."

Before arriving at the Rafah Border Gate, the Turkish foreign minister had the opportunity to observe how aid brought by ships to al-Arish Port was loaded onto trucks and brought to the border gate.

Fidan noted that only about 25 trucks per day can cross...