Addressing AK Party’s parliamentary group meeting, President Erdoğan said: “We have embraced Türkiye as a whole with its 81 provinces and 85 million citizens. We have never engaged in discrimination in our politics, remarks, services or projects.”     President and Justice and Development (AK) Party Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a speech at the party's parliamentary group meeting. “ISRAEL CONTINUED TO SHED BLOOD DURING THE EID” “Israel continued to shed blood and rain bombs on children and innocents during this Eid, too, like the previous ones. Our hundreds of Palestinian brothers and sisters have died a martyr while struggling to survive in tents and ruined buildings due to Israel’s inhumane attacks. I once again remember with mercy our over 38 thousand Palestinian martyrs, the victims of Israel’s barbarity, and wish a speedy recovery to our wounded brothers and sisters. The photograph of Gazan children, whose skins cling to their bones since they cannot find even a morsel of food, has been inscribed into the modern world’s book of disgrace. This photograph will be remembered with pain as a symbol of not only the global system’s bankruptcy but also the Islamic world’s incompetence,” President Erdoğan said. “Let me state the following loud and clear: Just as our ancestors defended Palestine throughout history, just as Yavuz Sultan Selim and Sultan Abdulhamid defended Palestine, just as the Republic of Türkiye defended Palestine since its foundation, we are also defending Palestine with the same spirit, same determination and same courage, and will continue to do so,” President Erdoğan added.    “WE WILL MAINTAIN OUR CONTACTS IN ORDER FOR MORE COUNTRIES TO RECOGNIZE PALESTINE” Underscoring that no one should expect Türkiye to bow down to the pressures of the global Zionist network or stay buttoned-up in the face of oppressors, President Erdoğan stated: “We put the spotlight on the oppression against our Gazan brothers and sisters during the visits we paid to Spain and Italy right before Eid al-Adha. We clearly expressed that nowhere in the world can be safe so long as the policies of occupation and massacres continue in Palestine. We emphasized that the most effective response to Israel’s spoiledness and lawlessness is the recognition of the Palestinian state. We hope the conscientious stance led by Spain and taken by Ireland and Norway will set an example to the rest of Europe. We are also pleased that Armenia, under the leadership of Mr. Pashinyan, has recognized the Palestinian state. Having increased to 149 with the recent announcements, the recognition decisions are very important and valuable. We will maintain our contacts in order for more countries to recognize Palestine.” President Erdoğan continued his remarks as follows: “However, I have to make the following warning here. It seems that Israel, which has devastated Gaza, is now setting its sights on Lebanon. We see that Western powers, despite talking differently in front of the cameras, are actually patting Israel on the back and are even supporting it behind the scenes. It is extremely alarming and pathetic that states which constantly talk about freedoms, human rights and justice become a slave of a mentally-ill person like Netanyahu. Netanyahu’s plans to spread the war to the region with the consent of the West, will –I am saying it openly– lead to a great disaster. The Islamic world and the brotherly countries in the Middle East must react against these bloody plans before the West. We are saddened to witness that the Islamic world is acting as if covered in the dust of the dead. We shouldn’t allow this to happen. Türkiye stands with the state and the brotherly people of Lebanon. I also call on other countries in the region to stand in solidarity with Lebanon.” “WE WORK DAY AND NIGHT TO ENSURE TÜRKİYE GROWS” Highlighting the efforts he personally has been exerting for nearly half a century and the AK Party has been carrying out for almost 23 years in the service of Türkiye and the nation, President Erdoğan stated: “We work day and night to ensure Türkiye grows and the Republic of Türkiye exists forever. We strive to make our crescent-star flag, which symbolizes our independence and gives peace to oppressed hearts, wave proudly. We see each and every one of the 85 million as our companions, as our partners in destiny. Let me once again underline an issue which I have pointed out numerous times previously. Since its inception, AK Party has never favored polarization or factionalization, nor has it ever pursued politics of tension. We have embraced Türkiye as a whole with its 81 provinces and 85 million citizens. We have never engaged in discrimination in our politics, remarks, services or projects.”