The genocide of Gaza by Israel was depicted on stamps in Turkey.

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Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu attended the "My Heart is in Palestine" Commemorative Stamp Promotion Ceremony, which PTT will publish to draw attention to the genocide committed by Israel in Gaza and to support the Palestinian people. Speaking here, Uraloğlu stated, "The violence against Palestinians by Israel has turned into a full-fledged genocide since October 7, 2023, systematically carried out since 1967. The oppression inflicted on the oppressed Palestinian people in Gaza, which has been turned into an open-air prison with an unjust blockade, isolated from the world, and left to die, is heartbreaking."

"NO IDEOLOGY CAN LEGITIMIZE THE MASSACRE OF INNOCENT BABIES"

Pointing out that tens of thousands of Palestinians, including children and women, have been martyred, Uraloğlu said, "A great humanitarian crisis is taking place in lands that are under blockade by land, air, and sea, where humanitarian aid has been cut off, safe zones have been bombed, doctors and nurses have been killed, ambulances have been attacked, and the transportation of humanitarian aid has been obstructed. No belief, no ideology can legitimize or justify the massacre of innocent babies or the burning and killing of innocent civilians in their tents."

"THE FREEDOM OF PALESTINE IS A CAUSE FOR US"

Uraloğlu emphasized that Palestine has great spiritual value in the eyes of the entire Islamic world, stating, "The freedom of Palestine is a cause for us. The only world leader who can openly and clearly say no to this oppression is our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Apart from our noble nation, which unites under his leadership, we do not see many efforts to end this oppression. As Turkey, we are making maximum effort for the rightful conclusion of this cause in accordance with international law and human rights, and for Israel to receive the punishment it deserves. We will continue to make every possible contribution to establish lasting peace in the entire Middle East, especially in Palestine."

Minister Uraloğlu explained that the Turkish nation has always stood by the Palestinians, saying, "When the State of Palestine declared its independence on November 15, 1988, Turkey was among the first countries to recognize the State of Palestine. We were brothers in the past, we are brothers today, and this brotherhood will continue in the future."

ATTENTION WILL BE DRAWN TO THE GENOCIDE IN GAZA WITH COMMEMORATIVE STAMPS

Uraloğlu expressed the value they place on raising public awareness of the genocide in Gaza with the commemorative stamps prepared using photographs taken by PTT's veteran war correspondent, photographer, and television producer Coşkun Aral, stating, "I thank Mr. Coşkun Aral for his unique photographs that manage to convey what we sometimes cannot express in a thousand words in a single frame. I say health to his hands, eyes, lens, and heart. I believe that our stamps, enriched with these unique photographs, will make us feel the brotherhood we hold for the Palestinians to our core."

"WE WILL NEVER FORGET THIS GENOCIDE, WE WILL NOT LET IT BE FORGOTTEN"

Uraloğlu noted that the Turkey-Palestine joint stamp, printed in 2013 and featuring the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Sultan Ahmed Mosque, immortalizes the brotherhood between the two nations, stating, "Starting tomorrow, we will present a commemorative stamp with a print run of 105,000, three serial numbered commemorative stamps with a print run of 5,000 each, 7,500 first-day covers, and a portfolio of 5,000 stamps containing these products, both for circulation and for your appreciation. We will never forget this genocide happening in Palestine, and we will not let it be forgotten. We will carry Palestine in our hearts."

STAMP IS LIKE A FLAG

Minister Uraloğlu emphasized that a stamp is a heritage, a culture, and an indispensable passion for some, stating, "When you examine the stamps carefully, you can see traces of the social, political, economic, and cultural elements of the period they were printed. Most importantly, printing stamps is a sign of independence and sovereignty, just like printing money. A stamp is like a flag."

Recalling that the Ottoman Empire printed its first adhesive postage stamp on January 1, 1863, and became a founding member of the Universal Postal Union in 1875, Uraloğlu stated, "The first stamp design was the tughra, the emblem of Turkish sovereignty. This stamp was drawn in the Istanbul printing house and took its place in history as a new symbol of our nation's independence. Thus, the Ottoman Empire became the second independent country after Russia in Asia to print adhesive postage stamps."

Uraloğlu emphasized that with the establishment of the Republic in 1923, postal services became much more modern, noting that Turkey continues to skillfully design and produce its own postage stamps.

Uraloğlu stated that the stamps printed by PTT not only appear on citizens' letters but also serve as a historical document that conveys important events and developments of the period they were printed to future generations, saying, "In our museum, opened with the slogan 'Collections Witnessing History,' an unparalleled collection is exhibited, featuring all stamps printed from the first stamp issued in 1863 to the present day. As you may recall, we also added our 100th-anniversary stamp, specially designed for the 100th anniversary of the proclamation of our Republic, to our museum collection, presenting it to the interest of our citizens last year on October 29."