Erdoğan receives an unusual letter with a request
8:21 AM EST, November 18, 2023
The parents of two kidnapped Israelis, Romi, aged 23, and Omer, aged 21, made an appeal to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for their release - as reported by CNN Turk on Friday. The letter was sent to the Turkish President on November 3 and made public on Friday.
"As relatives of the Israelis who have been held hostage by Hamas since October 7, we are seeking your assistance in relation to their tragic situation," the letter read.
The parents highlighted the crucial role that Turkey could play in peacefully resolving the ongoing crisis between Israel and Hamas.
"As the leader of a significant regional power, with considerable influence over the Middle East, the Muslim world, and beyond, we believe you are in a unique position to provide invaluable assistance," the Israelis implored Erdoğan.
The parents urged the Turkish leader to "do everything within his power to secure proof of life from the captives, ensure their immediate medical needs are met, and facilitate their release."
Will Turkey intervene in Israel's plight? An unusual proposition emerges
In early November, Erdoğan stated that for Ankara to intervene in the hostage crisis, Israel would need to commit to releasing imprisoned Palestinians in return. He assured that Hamas is still expressing a desire to release the civilians.
On Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sharpened his rhetoric and referred to Israel as a "terrorist state", following his initial offers to mediate between Israel and Hamas.
In his previous comments about the war in the Gaza Strip, the leader accused the West of contributing to a catastrophe in the Palestinian region controlled by Hamas - an organization that Turkey does not recognize as a terrorist entity.
