Turkey's Erdogan Condemns Israel as Occupier, Praises Hamas as Freedom Fighters

Turkish President Erdogan addressed a large pro-Palestinian rally in Istanbul, calling Israel a war criminal and expressing support for Hamas, which he referred to as "freedom fighters." Erdogan criticized Western leaders for not calling for a ceasefire and condemned their unconditional support for Israel. The rally, held on the eve of Turkey's centenary celebrations, is seen as an attempt by Erdogan to overshadow the secular republic's founding and consolidate support among Turkey's Sunni conservatives. Turkey does not consider Hamas a terrorist organization and has offered to play a role in negotiating the release of hostages abducted by Hamas during a recent assault.