Main opposition CHP leader Özel confronts citizen over Hamas after Eid al-Adha prayer

After a citizen told main opposition CHP leader Özgür Özel “You consider Hamas a terrorist organization,” Özel said President Erdoğan thanked him for “fighting for Palestine,” so “know what you are talking about on Eid morning.”

Duvar English

Turkish main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel visited his hometown, the western Manisa province, for Eid al-Adha.

After the Eid al-Adha prayer on June 16, one citizen came to him and said, “You criticize Israel, but consider Hamas a terrorist organization.”

In an angry tone, Özel responded, “Listen to me on Eid morning. I wrote a letter to 119 countries in the world. Do you know what I said, 'Recognize Palestine.' If Spain recognized Palestine, it was because of my letter.”

“If one side kills the other, they are wrong. I travel all over the world for Palestine to be recognized and free. The President (Erdoğan) thanked me, said 'You are fighting for Palestine'. So on the morning of Eid, know what you are talking about, okay?,” he added.

Turkey lifts visa requirement for six countries Record number of resident foreigners leave Turkey in 2023 Parliamentary commission to reconvene to discuss Swedish NATO bid Turkey to request extradition for mother, son fled after fatal crash Turkey set to open first church in republic's history 2024 Turkish local elections feed