Citizens in Istanbul have called on the Turkish Parliament to host Hamas leaders in response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent speech to the U.S. Congress.

This demand comes after Netanyahu's speech, which aimed to justify the Israeli genocide in Gaza, received a standing ovation from Republicans and a significant number of Democrats.

The ongoing genocide in Gaza, now over ten months, has seen widespread condemnation of Israel's actions, with the U.S. being its main supporter and funder. Following Friday prayers, several Istanbul residents expressed their dissatisfaction with the U.S. decision to invite Netanyahu to speak. They proposed that Turkish officials should counter this move by inviting Hamas leaders to speak at the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye.

Speaking to Ilke News Agency, Cevdet Yanılmaz criticized the U.S. for hosting Netanyahu, stating: “America is currently the representative of oppression in the world. For them, hosting an oppressor in their own parliament is a completely natural situation. For us Muslims, it is our duty to stand with the oppressed against the oppressor. Hosting the leaders of the oppressed in our own parliament would be a source of honor and dignity for us. If we do not, it would become a matter of disgrace. In this context, we, as well as the Muslim people, especially the officials in the parliament, have significant responsibilities. In response to this disgraceful act by America, we should also invite Hamas officials.”

Abdulhalim Karabulut described America's actions as disgraceful, stating: “Allowing Netanyahu to speak in the parliament and applauding him during the ongoing massacres is extremely shameful. As a Muslim and a human, I am deeply embarrassed by this situation. I cannot understand how they can forget such disgraceful actions. Therefore, we absolutely condemn it. I believe inviting Hamas leaders would be both beneficial and a form of retaliation against what has been done.”

Murat Aydın emphasized the need for Turkish leaders to invite Hamas officials to speak in their parliament, noting: “The state leaders and those governing the country should work together to invite Ismail Haniyeh and his colleagues to our parliament. When Hamas officials come to our parliament, they should be given a platform to speak. Our duty is to welcome them and give them a standing ovation. They are our values. If we do not support them, they will feel abandoned, and the occupiers will continue their ruthless attacks.”

Recep Aras, reflecting on the broader suffering in the Islamic world, remarked: “Today, just like in Palestine, certain groups in the Islamic world are constantly being targeted while the rest of the world remains passive. Everything that could be beneficial should be done. In this context, it would be good for Ismail Haniyeh and other leaders to come. If America is stopped, Israel will also be unable to sustain its existence because Israel operates with significant support from America. Even if everyone in Gaza, with its population of 2 million, were to die, the situation would not change.”

The public sentiment in Istanbul highlights the broader frustration and anger felt by many in the region towards the Israeli genocidal aggression in Gaza and the international responses to the conflict. (ILKHA)