The message the Grand National Assembly gave by hosting Mahmoud Abbas

Mahmoud Abbas's speech at the TBMM in his capacity as President of the State of Palestine was an important event that upset the preconceptions of many segments in many respects. The idea of having Abbas speak at the TBMM was initially conceived as a response to the genocidal murderer Netanyahu being greeted with applause in the US Congress despite all his crimes and crimes against humanity. But from the moment this idea first came to mind, the question of whether Mahmoud Abbas was a suitable name for it also immediately came to mind and onto the agenda. Because in the face of the inhuman, savage genocide displayed against the people of Gaza since 7 October, Mahmoud Abbas, in his capacity as the official representative of Palestine, had not displayed a stance different from the other silent Arab leaders. Indeed, as an extra, Abbas had even made statements that almost held Hamas, rather than Israel, responsible for the savage massacres in Gaza, for the attacks that have raised the conscience of the whole world against Israel.

In essence, Mahmoud Abbas's reason for being was, as he himself has stated repeatedly in different venues, for example at the Arab League meeting, to ensure Israel's security. His mission of preventing the spirit of resistance awakened among the Palestinian people against all of Israel's expansionist, usurping settlement policies and violations against Al-Aqsa Mosque from threatening Israel is not a secret mission.

Let alone Gaza, even in the West Bank, where Abbas's government is located, thousands of Palestinians have lost their lives in thousands of Israeli attacks since 7 October, and thousands have been arrested. His mission of fighting, in cooperation with Israel and with intelligence and police forces, against the anger and resistance activities arising in Palestine, reaching places Israel's hand cannot reach and trying to prevent resistance on Israel's behalf, is known to everyone. That is why, in the atmosphere formed since 7 October, with Abbas not seen by the Palestinian resistance as even the last person to represent them, his being made to speak at the TBMM, even as a response to Netanyahu, was received as very strange.

Ankara was in fact aware of this oddity. But in order to remedy this oddity to some extent, it was thought that the Hamas leader would also accompany Abbas on this visit. This was, on the one hand, a logical step in Turkey's approach to the Palestinian issue from the start. Despite these perceptions about Abbas, or the role Abbas has played, Turkey insisted on the unification of the parties in Palestine and their jointly representing Palestine. But the martyrdom of Ismail Haniyeh made a dual representation impossible on this visit.

On the other hand, Abbas's position as the official representative of the whole Palestinian people, Hamas included, despite all his de facto or official position, could not be ignored. At the TBMM, with a speech in which he made not the slightest accusation against Hamas, on behalf of Gaza and the Palestinian people, accusing Israel entirely of genocide and even pointing to the United States as a partner in this crime, Abbas gave a speech that far surpassed himself. He probably could not have given such a speech anywhere but Turkey.

His having given such a speech means that he did, late though it was, what he should have done since 7 October. The content of his speech was not different from what any Hamas spokesman could have said. This content had been formed and loaded onto him by the setting he was in, by the expectations of the whole world of him via Turkey. The whole TBMM membership repeatedly receiving his speech standing was not a favor shown to his person but a message to Israel, to the United States, and to everyone who supports the massacres in fact, by applauding or by remaining silent. This message of course did not absolve the faults he has committed so far in Palestine against the valiant men of Gaza, indeed in the stance of all who applauded him standing there was a reminder of this as well.

Perhaps because this message might not be fully understood, the messages given by the different parties of the TBMM while listening to the speech happened to make the message even clearer. The Hüda-Par deputies' placing photographs of Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar on their desks and not joining the applause and the standing, for example, perfectly completed the missing sides of this message.

Another side that remained missing was likewise completed by the İYİ Party's placing East Turkestan flags on the desks. As is known, during his visit to China, Mahmoud Abbas had said that he confirmed the discriminatory policies in East Turkestan by saying China was fighting terror.

That he did not do what he should have done until now while his own people have been subjected to terrible massacres for nearly a year will of course remain a heavy burden on him. But his describing what has happened in Gaza as genocide in his capacity as president of the State of Palestine and holding Israel and its minions responsible for it, his commemorating with mercy the Martyr Ismail Haniyeh, whom he himself had dismissed from office when he was elected prime minister, and reciting the Fatiha for his soul, and his announcing that he would go to Gaza together with all his brothers, belated though it is, whatever anyone may say, has been a not insignificant gain on behalf of the resistance in Gaza, on behalf of the Palestinian cause, and against Israel.

Although in Israel's and the United States' "day after" plans there is already talk of Abbas going to take over the administration in Gaza in place of Hamas, from this hour on it can only be a matter of Abbas going to Gaza not in spite of Hamas or to replace Hamas, but together with Hamas. This will be the natural result of Abbas's speech at the TBMM.

On this occasion, the stance the TBMM displayed toward such an event, together with all its members and deputies, even with the differentiation among them, has formed a composition important for Turkey and, I think, a source of pride.