AK Party Rejects Proposal For Commission On Gaza Aid

ALİ ASLAN KILIÇ
Deputies from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) rejected on Sunday an opposition proposal to establish a parliamentary commission to look into possibilities for helping Gaza, where Israeli attacks over the past two weeks have killed nearly 400 Palestinians.

The proposal was introduced by the parliamentary group of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) as Parliament convened for debates on an omnibus bill. The proposal, calling for an investigation commission to look into ways for sending humanitarian aid to Gaza, was supported by the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP). But the AK Party, which has a decisive parliamentary majority, rejected it.

The CHP proposal was based on a joint parliamentary statement issued by all four parties last week condemning Israel. Speaking on behalf of the MHP group, parliamentary group deputy chairman Oktay Öztürk said the proposal was aimed at determining parameters for sending humanitarian aid to Gaza, as promised in the last week's joint statement.
CHP delegation to visit Gaza

Meanwhile, a delegation of 10 deputies from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) will head to the Gaza Strip to show solidarity with the Palestinians, a senior party official has said.

“Our deputies will go to Gaza to witness the humanitarian tragedy there and show that we are on the side of the oppressed,” CHP Secretary-General Gürsel Tekin told Today's Zaman on Sunday. Members of the delegation will apply to the Foreign Ministry regarding the visit, Tekin also said.

The Turkish government has sharply criticized Israel for attacking Gaza, with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan claiming that Israel has “surpassed Hitler in barbarity” with its attacks, which killed nearly 400 Palestinians so far.

The attacks triggered a wave of protests across Turkey as well, particularly outside the Israeli diplomatic missions in İstanbul and Ankara.

Tekin criticized the prime minister for not keeping his earlier promises to visit Gaza and for undermining the credibility of Turkey in the international community.

“We as the CHP will go there, bearing the [message of] support from our 76 million people,” he said.

Tekin said the government, which frequently boasts that Turkey will become a globally respected actor, has actually made Turkey look like a helpless country. “Your consulate has been seized and your citizens have been captives at the hands of terrorists. Your policies on Syria, Egypt and Palestine have all collapsed. Are you a global player or a global toy?” Tekin asked, referring to the seizure of the Turkish Consulate in Mosul by militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) on June 11. (Cihan/Today’s Zaman)