As Israel launches a new invasion of Gaza City under the codename “Gideon’s Chariots 2”, a Palestinian doctor in northern Gaza has issued a blistering open letter to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, accusing Ankara of silence and abandonment during Gaza’s darkest hour.
A doctor serving in the northern Gaza Strip, Dr. Sahr Hamad, shared an open letter addressed to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan through Gazan journalist Mohammed AbuTaqiya. In the letter, Hamad expressed deep disappointment that Turkey has remained silent in the face of Gaza’s destruction and siege.
Dr. Hamad told President Erdoğan that Palestinians once saw Turkey as standing with the oppressed, but during Gaza’s massacres, they felt abandoned:
“Mr. President, we knew you as someone who stood by the oppressed, but… at Gaza’s most difficult moment—through silence or inaction—seeing Turkey withdraw has deeply saddened us.”
“We were deceived by your words”
According to a report by Feyza Nur Çalıkoğlu of Karar, Hamad underlined that Gaza has been under intense assault and blockade for over six hundred days, describing the humanitarian catastrophe in these terms:
“Thousands of martyrs, tens of thousands wounded. A people are being annihilated by fire, hunger, and siege. By God, Mr. President, we did not ask you for military support; we only asked for water, food, and a real humanitarian corridor. Yet while oppressors delivered all kinds of weapons, you could not even deliver a bottle of water or a piece of bread to us.”
Recalling President Erdoğan’s past words to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Hamad wrote:
“Once you said to Netanyahu: ‘How many more must die before you stop this war?’
History will record: (During President Erdoğan’s time, Gaza was massacred and nothing was done to prevent it).
Our love for you was for the sake of God, but today you are like the other leaders of the Islamic world. More than 60,000 people have been killed, and you only watch. Your words did not go beyond rhetoric. Unfortunately, we were deceived.”
Full Text of the Letter
“Say: Work! Allah will see your deeds, and so will His Messenger and the believers.” (Qur’an, At-Tawba 9:105)
Mr. President, we loved you, we always wished victory for you, we wanted you to raise the banner of truth, and we believed you stood with the oppressed. But…
After all the massacres, displacement, and starvation, in Gaza’s hardest moment—through silence or inaction—we saw Turkey withdraw, leaving us alone before the most brutal army in the world, the Nazi Israeli army. We were shocked and deeply saddened.
Mr. President, set aside your diplomatic initiatives in international institutions, for from the past until today they have neither stopped bloodshed nor prevented massacres. You respected international law—but where is God’s law? Where is the Sunnah of His Prophet (peace be upon him)?
Did you not hear our beloved Prophet’s words?
“Whoever abandons a Muslim whose dignity is trampled, Allah will abandon him on the day he seeks help. But whoever aids a Muslim whose honor is violated, Allah will help him on the day he seeks aid.”
For more than six hundred days under massacre, destruction, and siege, Gaza has given thousands of martyrs and tens of thousands of wounded. A people are being annihilated before the eyes of the world—by fire, hunger, and blockade. Do you not see this? Is your turning your back on us not prolonging this oppression?
Where is the brotherhood of faith that Allah commanded? Where is the brotherhood you yourself speak of? Where is your responsibility toward Al-Aqsa Mosque and the sacred lands?
By God, Mr. President, we did not ask you for military support—even though that too is a right. We only asked for water, food, and real humanitarian corridors and steps to restrain the oppressor and save the oppressed. Yet while oppressors supplied every kind of weapon and aid to the criminal, you could not deliver even a bottle of water or a piece of bread to us!
With what shall we question you before Allah? With our children’s blood? With massacres? Or with your silence?
Once you said to Netanyahu: “How many more must die before you stop this war?”
Today I ask you: How many more martyrs must we give before you take a stand like Sultan Abdulhamid?
History will record: (During President Erdoğan’s time, Gaza was massacred and nothing was done to prevent it).
These are words of reproach from someone who trusted you and hoped for your help. We do not hold to account those we do not love.
Our love for you was for God’s sake. But today you are like the other leaders of the Arab and Islamic world.
We may be weak in international terms and worldly power, but before God and with His help, we are strong—very strong.
Our meeting place is before God, where rights are never lost.
Let Allah bear witness: you abandoned us. And we declare you our adversary before God.
Despite all our love, Gaza was destroyed in your time. More than 60,000 people were killed, and you only watch.
Victory comes from Allah, not from men.
Your words and speeches never went beyond the throat… Unfortunately, we were deceived.
Lastly, my brother, I fear for you that you may be among those described in this verse:
“Allah held back those whom He did not want to go forth to battle, and discouraged them…”
And I fear you may be among those described in the Prophet’s words about his Ummah:
“You will be numerous, but scattered like the foam on the sea…”
May Allah not leave you without aid in this trial.
Peace and prayers,
Dr. Sahr Hamad
Director, Kemal Adwan Hospital
Palestine – Gaza – Northern Gaza
“And indeed, the place of reckoning is with Allah.”
Israel Launches “Gideon’s Chariots 2”
Meanwhile, the Israeli military announced it has begun preparations for a large-scale invasion of Gaza City. Army spokesman Effie Defrin confirmed the operation, codenamed “Gideon’s Chariots 2”, after approval by Defense Minister Yisrael Katz.
- – Troop mobilization: 60,000 reservists have been called up since early September, with service terms extended for another 20,000.
- – Operation focus: Initial attacks target the Zeytun district in southeastern Gaza City.
- – Scale of strikes: Over 10,000 targets have reportedly been hit from air and sea since March 18. Israel claims to now control about 75% of Gaza.
- – Military objectives: In phase one, about one million Palestinians are to be driven south; in phase two, refugee camps in central Gaza are to be occupied.
Five Israeli military units are conducting simultaneous operations as part of the invasion strategy.
Netanyahu Demands Speed, Hamas Vows Resistance
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the army to accelerate its advance, insisting Hamas must be “decisively defeated.” Defense Minister Katz has already signed off on the operational plan prepared by Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir.
Before the invasion, Netanyahu had publicly declared his goal: “to occupy the entire Gaza Strip.”
Hamas, however, dismissed the invasion as doomed to fail:
“The invasion of Gaza will not be a picnic. This plan will fail, just like the previous ones,” the group said, calling it “an extension of genocide” and accusing Netanyahu of disregarding ceasefire and prisoner exchange proposals.
UN Calls for Immediate Ceasefire
International concern is mounting. UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the assault on Gaza City risks catastrophic loss of life.
“It is vital to secure an immediate ceasefire to prevent the death and destruction that a military operation against Gaza City would cause,” Guterres said, urging Hamas to release hostages and Israel to halt settlement expansion in the West Bank.
