Visiting Madrid, Erdogan thanks Spain for ‘consistent’ anti-Israel stance

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (L) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan walk together at La Moncloa Palace in Madrid on June 13, 2024. (Pierre-Philippe Marcou/AFP)
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (L) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan walk together at La Moncloa Palace in Madrid on June 13, 2024. (Pierre-Philippe Marcou/AFP)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hails Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez for his stance on the Gaza war, which has seen the Spanish leader emerging as an outspoken critic of Israel.

“Mr. Sanchez has pursued a principled and consistent policy from day one [of the war] and has a special place in the hearts of the entire Turkish nation,” Erdogan says.

“In the name of my people, I congratulate” Sanchez for his attitude, he adds on an official visit to Spain as the two leaders open an economic forum in Madrid.

Erdogan, a harsh critic of Israel, once again accuses the Jewish state of committing “genocide” in Gaza, which he says “hurts everyone with a conscience.”

“We are faced with an [Israeli] arrogance that responds even to ceasefire calls with bloodshed,” he says.

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