The Turkish Foreign Ministry strongly condemned Saturday the “disproportionate use of force” against Palestinians protesting the recent decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
The statement released by the ministry said Turkey is deeply saddened and concerned about the aggression by Israeli forces which led to the death of four Palestinians and injured hundreds more.
“We strongly condemn the use of disproportionate force by Israel” it added.
Trump announced Wednesday that the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv will be moved to Occupied Jerusalem garnering worldwide criticism including from its regional allies and fellow U.N. Security Council member states.
The decision caused widespread protests across the Muslim world while demonstrations in Palestine turned violent after the Israeli occupation army started to use live ammunition and tear gas to disperse protests.
Israel occupied the east of the city in 1967 and later annexed it in moves never recognized by the international community.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday described Israel as a “state of occupation” which used terror against the Palestinians as he stepped up his criticism of the U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as its capital.
“And now they are making use of terror and are bombing young people and children” he said.
Erdogan who regards himself as a champion of the Palestinian cause and an opponent of any perceived global injustice against Muslims described Jerusalem as the “apple of our eye” and a “red line” for Muslims.
