Main Turkish parties condemn Israel in joint statement

By Yildiz Aktas and Kubilay Celik

ANKARA (AA) - Three Turkish political parties released a rare joint statement on Tuesday to condemn Israel over the recent killing of dozens of Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip.

Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) said they strongly condemned the Israeli government "on behalf of all humanity".

"Palestinians' peaceful reaction over U.S. and Israel’s move ignoring UN resolutions and the international community is their fundamental right," the statement added.

The statement added the U.S. move to relocate its embassy to Jerusalem "aids and abets" killing of Palestinians in Gaza.

According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, at least 61 Palestinian demonstrators have been martyred by cross-border Israeli gunfire in one of the deadliest single-day massacres in the country's history.

Earlier, opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) condemned Israel for the recent violence.

Thousands of Palestinians gathered on the Gaza Strip’s eastern border Monday to take part in mass rallies to commemorate the Nakba anniversary and protest the relocation of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Since the border rallies began on March 30, more than 100 Palestinian demonstrators have been killed by cross-border Israeli gunfire, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

The rallies were expected to culminate on Tuesday, the 70th anniversary of Israel's establishment -- an event Palestinians refer to as the "Nakba" or "the Catastrophe".

Last week, the Israeli government said the ongoing border protests constituted a “state of war” in which international humanitarian law did not apply.