Former Mardin MP Abdurrahim Akdağ has called for an expedited discussion of a proposed bill that would target Turkish citizens with dual nationality who have participated in the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza.

Following the acceptance of a motion for the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) to review the bill, Akdağ has emphasized the urgency of advancing the proposal through parliamentary procedures.

The bill, presented by HÜDA PAR, targets dual citizens who have participated in genocidal acts, particularly in Gaza. It calls for the revocation of their citizenship, seizure of their assets, and heavy penalties, including aggravated life imprisonment. The proposal includes six articles covering execution and enforcement provisions and is anticipated to be discussed in the General Assembly before the parliamentary recess.

Speaking to Ilke News Agency (ILKHA), Akdağ provided a detailed historical context to the Palestinian issue, asserting that it did not begin with the recent conflict but has deep historical roots. "The Palestinian issue did not start on October 7," Akdağ stated. "The theoretical foundations for a Jewish Zionist state centered in Jerusalem were laid when Theodor Herzl convened the Zionist Congress in 1897. In 1917, with the Balfour Declaration, Britain envisioned the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine. In 1948, the United Nations recognized the formation of the state of Israel, which was based on occupation, massacre, oppression, displacement, and theft."

Akdağ criticized the formation of the state of Israel, saying, "Jews from around the world were brought in to occupy almost all of Palestine, excluding Gaza. The West Bank and Jerusalem were occupied in 1967, along with the Golan Heights and Sinai. The Arab states were unable to respond effectively. After World War II, the support for Israel shifted from the superpower and imperialist forces."

He also highlighted reports indicating that approximately 4,000 Jews from Türkiye have been involved in the recent conflict in Gaza. "It is reported that 4,000 Jews from Türkiye have participated in these massacres," Akdağ remarked. "The state has a responsibility to monitor its citizens and their involvement in crimes abroad. Those involved in these massacres will eventually return, and we will see them among us, with blood-stained hands. We must not allow them to blend back into society."

The bill proposed by HÜDA PAR has garnered support from several political factions, including the AK Party, DEVA Party, Future Party, Felicity Party, and HÜDA PAR itself. However, Akdağ expressed frustration over the delay in bringing the bill to full discussion and called for its urgent consideration. "It is crucial that this bill be discussed promptly," Akdağ insisted. "Türkiye must demonstrate to the world that it will not accept citizens who have participated in massacres and destruction in Palestine and then return as if nothing happened."

Akdağ also addressed the broader geopolitical context of the conflict, stating, "Today, peoples stand by Palestine. They support the destroyed homes, orphaned children, and innocent babies. However, imperialist powers like the USA, UK, Germany, Canada, and France not only support Israel but also provide all sorts of weapons, including bombs, planes, tanks, missiles, and radar systems. We should not assume that Hamas’s military force, Al-Qassam, is fighting against a 10 million strong Israel. It is fighting against 100 million supporters of these mentioned states and global financiers."

He expressed concern about the undefined borders and expansive ambitions of Israel, referencing the concept of ‘Greater Israel’ and its implications for regional stability. "Today, Israel's boundaries and geography remain undefined," Akdağ noted. "They live with the delusion of ‘Greater Israel,’ extending as far as Kayseri in Türkiye, Jordan, and even including Mecca, Medina, and the Sinai Desert. Israel was a dream until 1948, but now it exists as an occupying regime without internationally defined borders."

Finally, Akdağ expressed hope for a future free from Zionist aggression, drawing on historical examples such as the liberation of Jerusalem by Salah ad-Din in 1187. "I believe that the blood of the martyrs will soon lead to Palestine's freedom and the end of Zionist barbarity," Akdağ said. "I pray for the liberation of Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque. Since the time of Caliph Omar in 638, Jerusalem has been honored by Islam. In 1187, it was liberated by Salah ad-Din from the Crusaders. I hope that a figure like Salah ad-Din will emerge today, and that we will see the day when Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque are freely visited by Muslims." (ILKHA)