The results of new municipal elections in Turkey <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/chp-s-mansur-yavas-garners-60--of-votes-in-ankara--99-8--vot">may indicate</a> that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a harsh critic of Israel, may be in trouble in future presidential elections.
Two major parties exist in Turkey, the Justice and Development Party (AK), headed by Erdogan, and the Republican People’s Party (CHP). The election on Sunday in the two major cities of Istanbul and Ankara featured the mayors of the two cities, both of whom belong to the CHP, successfully defending their positions from candidates from the AK. Ankara mayor Mansur Yavas of the CHP won over 60% of the votes.
In addition, in 35 of Turkey’s 81 provinces, the CHP <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/chp-leads-in-35-turkish-cities--akp-only-24-with-99--votes-c">won</a> in the municipal elections; the AK won in only 25. That represented the first time in 20 years the CHP led AK in local elections.
“Voters have chosen to change the face of Turkey,” CHP chairman Ozgur Ozel stated. &#8220;They want to open the door to a new political climate in our country.&#8221;
“Unfortunately, we have not obtained the results that we wanted,” Erdogan acknowledged.
According to analysts quoted by <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/foreign-minister-katz-turkish-voters-punished-erdogan-for-attacking-israel/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Times of Israel</a>, Turkish voters have become disenchanted with Erdogan because of roughly 70% inflation and an economic slowdown.
The significance of the two major cities voting for the CHP is that Ankara is the political capital of the nation and major financial centers reside in Istanbul.
In late December, Erdogan compared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Hitler, prompting Netanyahu and other leading Israeli officials to fire back.
<a href="https://www.aei.org/op-eds/erdogan-projects-his-own-genocidal-intent-onto-netanyahu/">Speaking</a> in Ankara, Erdogan once <a href="https://www.aei.org/op-eds/erdogan-projects-his-own-genocidal-intent-onto-netanyahu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, “A Muslim could not commit genocide; he is not capable of it.” He also <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/turkeys-erdogan-says-israeli-pm-netanyahu-no-different-hitler-2023-12-27/">declared</a>, “They used to speak ill of Hitler. What difference do you have from Hitler? They are going to make us miss Hitler. Is what this Netanyahu is doing any less than what Hitler did? It is not.”
That catalyzed this <a href="https://twitter.com/netanyahu/status/1740039502423265747?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">response</a> from Netanyahu: “Erdogan, who is committing genocide against the Kurds and who holds the world record for imprisoning journalists who oppose his regime, is the last person who can preach morality to us. The IDF, which is the most moral army in the world, is fighting to eliminate the most abhorrent and brutal terrorist organization in the world, Hamas-ISIS, which has committed crimes against humanity, and which Erdogan has praised and whose leaders he hosts.”
Israeli President Yitzchak Herzog <a href="https://twitter.com/Isaac_Herzog/status/1740050924037460046">added</a>, “I strongly condemn and utterly reject the words of Turkish President Erdogan. In all of human history, the Holocaust stands alone in its horror and enormity, and his words are deeply offensive to every Jew around the world, and to the memory of the millions of Jews who perished at the hands of the Nazis. The command ‘Never Again’ remains an imperative for the State of Israel — the nation state of the Jewish people — which is committed to the safety and protection of every Jew. There is no struggle more just than the war against the terrorist organization Hamas, which brutally and barbarically murdered Jews, as well as Muslims, and those of other faiths and nationalities.”

TOPSHOT-TURKEY-POLITICS-MUNICIPAL-VOTE

Erdogan’s Party Loses Significant Elections In Turkey

Israel

Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Turkey

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/turkey">Turkish</a> law enforcement officials arrested and charged Israel’s Sagiv Jehezkel for allegedly inciting hatred over the weekend after he wore a message on a wrist wrap that showed support for the hostages who were kidnapped during Hamas&#8217; October 7 terrorist attack against Israel.
The 28-year-old, playing for Turkish club Antalyaspor, celebrated his match-tying goal on Sunday against Trabzonspor in Turkey&#8217;s top league by making a heart sign with his hands and showing the message on his wrist wrap that said: &#8220;100 Days 7.10&#8221;.
The message came exactly 100 days after more than 200 hostages were taken during Hamas&#8217; unprecedented terror attack against Israel. More than 1,200 people were murdered, 5,300+ were injured, and numerous women and girls were violently raped.
Turkey’s justice minister, Yilmaz Tunc, said that authorities in Antalya &#8220;launched a judicial investigation against Israeli football player Sagiv Jehezkel for the crime of &#8216;publicly inciting the public to hatred and hostility&#8217; due to his ugly action supporting the massacre committed by Israel in #Gazze after the goal he scored in the Antalyaspor-Trabzonspor Super League match played today.&#8221;
&#8220;I once again condemn the attacks of Israel, which has committed crimes against humanity by committing genocide in Gaza, regardless of children or women, young or old, for more than 100 days,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We will always continue to stand by the oppressed Palestinians.&#8221;
Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett slammed Turkey following the arrest: &#8220;This is Turkey 2024. Shame on you, Turkish government.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Welcome to Turkey’s Midnight Express. 
This is unbelievable. 
An Israeli football player, Sagiv Yehezkel, scored a goal for Antalyaspor, a Turkish team. 
He made a gesture “100” for the Israelis who have been held hostage by Hamas for the past 100 days. 
All hell broke loose:… <a href="https://t.co/vjSfMGdWsG">pic.twitter.com/vjSfMGdWsG</a>
&mdash; Naftali Bennett נפתלי בנט (@naftalibennett) <a href="https://twitter.com/naftalibennett/status/1746663353118789951?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant called out Turkey on social media, noting Israel&#8217;s recent support for the country.
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&#8220;When the earth shook in Turkey less than a year ago, Israel was the first country to stand up and extend aid that saved the lives of many Turkish citizens,&#8221; Gallant said. &#8220;The scandalous arrest of the footballer Shagiv Yehezkel is an expression of hypocrisy and good will. In its actions, Turkey serves as the executive arm of Hamas.&#8221;
The Guardian <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/jan/15/israeli-footballer-sagiv-jehezkel-returning-home-after-turkish-arrest-over-gaza-war-message-football">reported</a> that Israel later secured Jehezkel&#8217;s release, and he is now back in Israel.

Villarreal CF v Hapoel Be’er Sheva: Group C – UEFA Europa Conference League

Israeli Soccer Player Arrested, Charged In Turkey After Standing In Solidarity With Israeli Hostages

Gaza

Global Politics

Hamas

World

A senior official of Hamas and a major fundraiser for the terrorist group is living freely in Turkey.
Zaher Jabarin oversees Hamas’ international fundraising and finances, including securing and transporting funds from Iran into Hamas coffers inside the Gaza Strip. Jabarin conducts his business from Turkey, working out of Hamas office space in Istanbul, according to <a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/the-ceo-of-hamas-who-found-the-money-to-attack-israel-351f2888" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Wall Street Journal</a>.
Jabarin’s work for Hamas, which the U.S. estimates is worth hundreds of millions of dollars, enabled the terror group to purchase the equipment and supplies necessary to pull off its October 7 invasion of Israel that resulted in the murders of some 1,200 Israelis and the capture of hundreds more.
“Jabarin played a huge role because he handles all of Hamas finance outside Gaza,” former Israeli security official Uzi Shaya told WSJ. “Jabarin is the CEO of Hamas.”
Jabarin denies any ties to terror, claiming that his only work is done for the political side of Hamas, its political party that rules the Gaza Strip. He claims that the Hamas organization’s military side, known as the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, functions separately. He attributed accusations that he has ties to terror to disinformation from Israel.
“Israel tries to mix apples and oranges,” he told WSJ. “Al-Qassam has its own ties, far away from Hamas the political party.”
The United States <a href="https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm772" target="_blank" rel="noopener">placed</a> sanctions on Jabarin in 2019.
“Jabarin has materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to, HAMAS,” the U.S. Treasury said of Jabarin at the time.
“In his capacity as head of HAMAS’s Finance Department, Jabarin was focused on developing a financial network in Turkey that would allow HAMAS to raise, invest, and launder money prior to transferring it to Gaza and the West Bank,” the notice of sanctions continued. “In recent years, Jabarin has promoted HAMAS’s terrorist activities in the West Bank and Gaza targeting Israel by transferring hundreds of thousands of U.S. dollars in the West Bank to finance HAMAS’s terrorist activity.  In addition, Jabarin tries to promote business activity and investments to generate revenue for HAMAS.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been a vocal supporter of Hamas and Palestinians against Israel. In Turkey, a member country of NATO, massive pro-Palestinian demonstrations have called for genocide against Jews.
“Murderer Israel, get out of Palestine,” demonstrators chanted in a protest at the start of the year, according to the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67861266" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BBC</a>.
Erdogan has said of Israel’s invasion of the Gaza Strip that it “is not any less than what Hitler did.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to the comparison to the Nazi leader, saying, “Erdogan, who commits genocide against the Kurds, who holds a world record for imprisoning journalists who oppose his rule, is the last person who can preach morality to us.”

Hamas ‘CEO,’ Financier Of October 7 Attack Living Freely In Turkey

After hard-line Islamist Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan compared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Hitler, Netanyahu joined other leading Israeli officials to fire back.
Speaking in Ankara on Wednesday, Erdogan, who once <a href="https://www.aei.org/op-eds/erdogan-projects-his-own-genocidal-intent-onto-netanyahu/">said</a>, “A Muslim could not commit genocide; he is not capable of it,” <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/27/turkeys-erdogan-says-netanyahu-no-different-than-hitler-as-gaza-is-bombed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">declared</a>, “They used to speak ill of Hitler. What difference do you have from Hitler? They are going to make us miss Hitler. Is what this Netanyahu is doing any less than what Hitler did? It is not.”
That catalyzed this response from Netanyahu: “Erdogan, who is committing genocide against the Kurds and who holds the world record for imprisoning journalists who oppose his regime, is the last person who can preach morality to us. The IDF, which is the most moral army in the world, is fighting to eliminate the most abhorrent and brutal terrorist organization in the world, Hamas-ISIS, which has committed crimes against humanity, and which Erdogan has praised and whose leaders he hosts.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Erdogan, who is committing genocide against the Kurds and who holds the world record for imprisoning journalists who oppose his regime, is the last person who can preach morality to us.
The IDF, which is the most moral army in the world, is fighting to eliminate the most…
&mdash; Benjamin Netanyahu &#8211; בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) <a href="https://twitter.com/netanyahu/status/1740039502423265747?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Israeli President Yitzchak Herzog added, “I strongly condemn and utterly reject the words of Turkish President Erdogan. In all of human history, the Holocaust stands alone in its horror and enormity, and his words are deeply offensive to every Jew around the world, and to the memory of the millions of Jews who perished at the hands of the Nazis. The command ‘Never Again’ remains an imperative for the State of Israel — the nation state of the Jewish people — which is committed to the safety and protection of every Jew. There is no struggle more just than the war against the terrorist organization Hamas, which brutally and barbarically murdered Jews, as well as Muslims, and those of other faiths and nationalities.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I strongly condemn and utterly reject the words of Turkish President Erdogan.
In all of human history, the Holocaust stands alone in its horror and enormity, and his words are deeply offensive to every Jew around the world, and to the memory of the millions of Jews who perished…
&mdash; יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) <a href="https://twitter.com/Isaac_Herzog/status/1740050924037460046?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon also had a few words:
<blockquote>
It would be prudent that a leader of a country that committed a heinous genocide against the Armenian people refrain from preaching morality to others. Erdogan has made himself the representative of the Hamas terror organization in Turkey and his statements are entirely disconnected from reality. I would suggest that he stop spouting his hollow slogans and instead show the world how much he actually cares by announcing a concrete number of Gazan families that he is willing to assist by accepting them into his country.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
It would be prudent that a leader of a country that committed a heinous genocide against the Armenian people refrain from preaching morality to others. Erdogan has made himself the representative of the Hamas terror organization in Turkey and his statements are entirely… <a href="https://t.co/Cmz8H1d0rL">pic.twitter.com/Cmz8H1d0rL</a>
&mdash; Danny Danon 🇮🇱 דני דנון (@dannydanon) <a href="https://twitter.com/dannydanon/status/1740020535654801640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Comparing Israel’s surgical actions in Gaza to the mass genocide perpetrated by Hitler is ludicrous; Hitler led a movement to exterminate all of the Jews in Europe, eventually killing six million of them, including one million children. The Nazis went so far as to claim anyone with any trace of Jewish blood be exterminated, a sentiment regarding killing all Jews that has been <a href="https://www.algemeiner.com/2023/11/21/hamas-threats-to-cut-off-heads-slit-throats-and-slaughter-every-jew-on-the-planet-were-ignored-in-2019/">echoed</a> by the terrorist group Hamas.
Meanwhile, Israel has lost <a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-12-27/ty-article/idf-officer-two-soldiers-killed-in-gaza-fighting/0000018c-a9d9-dbb4-af9f-edf9d3d90000">498 soldiers</a> since the October 7 massacre, a figure roughly equivalent to the United States losing 17,000 soldiers. The Israelis, rather than truly committing genocide by decimating Gaza from the air, have sent their soldiers at the risk of their lives into Gaza to reduce the loss of civilian life.

Bibi

Erdogan Compares Netanyahu To Hitler. Bibi, Other Israeli Officials Strike Back.

Benjamin Netanyahu

A <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/turkey" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Turkish</a> lawmaker collapsed on Tuesday immediately after declaring that Israel cannot &#8220;escape the wrath of God.&#8221;
Video from the Turkish Grand National Assembly showed Saadet Party Kocaeli Deputy Hasan Bitmez, 53, giving a speech before the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when he collapsed.
&#8220;Even if history remains silent, the truth will not remain silent. They think that if they get rid of us, there will be no problem,&#8221; he <a href="https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bjyxwblip" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a translation of his speech. &#8220;However, if you get rid of us, you will not be able to escape the torment of conscience. Even if you escape the torment of history, you will not be able to escape the wrath of God.&#8221;
Immediately after making the remarks he turned and collapsed onto the floor as people rushed in to help him.
Turkish officials later said that &#8220;during angiography, it was seen that two main veins were completely blocked, and after the intervention did not yield any results, he was connected to a heart-lung pump.&#8221;
&#8220;He is now vital with a heart-lung pump,&#8221; they added.
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WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Turkish parliament member Hasan Bismet strongly condemned Israel, shouting that it will &quot;suffer the wrath of Allah&quot;. Moments later Bismet suffered a heart attack and collapsed. <a href="https://t.co/lDxYhAZ0CH">pic.twitter.com/lDxYhAZ0CH</a>
&mdash; Ariel Oseran (@ariel_oseran) <a href="https://twitter.com/ariel_oseran/status/1734581690910056652?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Hasan Bitmez

Turkish Lawmaker Declares Israel Cannot ‘Escape The Wrath Of God,’ Instantly Collapses From Heart Attack

Turkish Lawmaker Declares Israel Cannot 'Escape The Wrath Of God,' Instantly Collapses From Heart Attack

General

Heart Attack

Radical Islam

A newly engaged woman plunged to her death after she fell over the edge of a 100-foot scenic seaside cliff in Turkey only minutes after her boyfriend got down on one knee and proposed.
Yesim Demir, 39, had gone to the romantic spot with the would-be-groom Nizamettin Gursu where the two were just about to celebrate their engagement with a picnic meal when Demir slipped off the steep cliff in Canakkale, a city in northwestern Turkey, on July 6, the <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/07/24/woman-plunges-to-death-off-cliff-in-turkey-while-celebrating-engagement/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York Post</a> reported.
Gursu told local outlets, &#8220;We chose it to have a romantic memory after the proposal. We drank some alcohol. Everything happened at once. She lost her balance and fell down.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
A woman in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Turkey?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Turkey</a> slipped and plunged to her death off a cliff, a few minutes after her boyfriend proposed to her.<a href="https://t.co/S7R2dUYUhF">https://t.co/S7R2dUYUhF</a>
&mdash; IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) <a href="https://twitter.com/IndiaToday/status/1683775108416954368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The soon-to-be groom had left his bride-to-be to get food and drinks in the car when he heard Demir let out an awful scream, Newsflash reported. <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/world/woman-plunges-death-100-foot-cliff-marriage-proposal-mishap" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gursu</a> rushed back to the spot where he left Yesim and when returned he spotted his fiancee at the foot of the cliffside point at Polente Cape, the outlet noted.
Medics arrived and immediately began to work on reviving Demir, who initially survived the 104-foot fall. But later she succumbed to her injuries and was officially declared dead after 45 minutes of resuscitation efforts failed, the outlet noted.
Authorities closed off the area and an investigation into her death got underway. On July 15, the location was opened &#8220;in a controlled manner,&#8221; according to the Post.
The scenic cliffside is reportedly a favorite place for locals to watch the sunset. However, many people noted that the site isn’t safe, Fox News noted.
Demir&#8217;s friends also said the spot is very popular but warned it&#8217;s known that the roads are &#8220;very bad&#8221; there.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
A woman has tragically fallen to her death, after her boyfriend proposed to her and took her to the edge of a seaside cliff to watch the sunset. 
Yesim Demir was with her partner in northwestern Turkey when she slipped and fell 100ft off a cliff. 
She initially survived the… <a href="https://t.co/vxZBQGwpTJ">pic.twitter.com/vxZBQGwpTJ</a>
&mdash; Oli London (@OliLondonTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/OliLondonTV/status/1683924681366069248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;This is a place where everyone comes and watches the sunset,&#8221; they said. &#8220;However, the roads are very bad and there is no precaution on the edge of the cliff. A fence should be drawn here, precautions should be taken.&#8221;
At the time of this publication, there is no word yet as to the status of the investigation or if an official cause of death has yet to be released for Demir.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/bride-killed-groom-injured-when-suspected-drunk-driver-slammed-into-their-golf-cart" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bride Killed, Groom Injured When Suspected Drunk Driver Slammed Into Their Golf Cart</a>

Holding Hands with engagement ring

Woman Plunges To Death From 100-Foot Cliff After Marriage Proposal

Death

engament

Marriage

Proposal

At least 79 people drowned early Wednesday morning, and hundreds more are feared dead after an overcrowded boat of migrants sank in the Mediterranean Sea near Greece.
The shipwreck occurred 47 nautical miles from the Greek town of Pylos. Greek officials have rescued more than 100 passengers from the sea, <a href="https://www.thenationalherald.com/president-sakellaropoulou-departs-for-kalamata/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">housing</a> them in nearby Kalamata. 
&#8220;According to the people, there were 750 people on board&#8230; We now hear reports of a shipwreck and fear they are true,&#8221; Alarm Phone, a trans-European network that supports rescue operations and vehemently <a href="https://twitter.com/alarm_phone/status/1669001422480846850?cxt=HHwWhMC9ye78vakuAAAA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">opposes</a> strong border policies, said on <a href="https://twitter.com/alarm_phone/status/1668913096667144193" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a>. 
According to the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65901005" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BBC</a>, survivors spoke of as many as 500 to 700 people on the boat, with regional health director Yiannis Karvelis saying, “The number of the people on board was much higher than the capacity that should be allowed for this boat.”
The <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/14/world/europe/greece-migrants-boat-sank.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ship</a> set sail from Tobruk, Libya, intending to reach Italy, according to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/seventeen-drown-100-rescued-after-migrant-shipwreck-off-greece-2023-06-14/?utm_source=Sailthru&amp;utm_medium=Newsletter&amp;utm_campaign=Daily-Briefing&amp;utm_term=061423" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reuters</a>. The vessel was 65-100 feet long and mostly carried young men from Egypt, Syria, and Pakistan. The shipwreck is the deadliest in Greece since 2015.
The Greek Coast Guard said the boat was first spotted late Tuesday by the E.U. border agency Frontex in international waters. Italian authorities alerted Greece of the boat’s presence, and the Greek Coast Guard approached the vessel and offered help. The Coast Guard said the migrants “refused assistance and stated their desire to continue their voyage.” A few hours later, the vessel veered from side to side before capsizing around 2:00 am. After the boat sank, the Coast Guard and military began a “wide-ranging search and rescue operation” looking for survivors and recovering the dead.
Greece is one of the <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2023/06/14/at-least-78-dead-in-worst-shipwreck-off-greece-in-years/?sh=159da68035e4">main routes</a> into Europe for migrants from the Middle East, Asia, and North Africa with its close proximity to Turkey. During the 2015-2016 immigration crisis, nearly 5.2 million migrants reached European shores, with 857,000 arriving in Greece. 
“The shipwreck brings to the fore once again, in the most tragic way, the need to dismantle the international smuggling rings that endanger the lives of migrants,” Greece’s Migration Ministry <a href="https://migration-gov-gr.translate.goog/en/deltio-typoy-ypoyrgeio-metanasteysis-kai-asyloy/?_x_tr_sl=auto&amp;_x_tr_tl=en&amp;_x_tr_hl=en&amp;_x_tr_pto=wapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Wednesday.
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Since Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/seventeen-drown-100-rescued-after-migrant-shipwreck-off-greece-2023-06-14/?utm_source=Sailthru&amp;utm_medium=Newsletter&amp;utm_campaign=Daily-Briefing&amp;utm_term=061423" target="_blank" rel="noopener">introduced</a> a tougher surveillance system at migrant camps, many migrants have taken more dangerous routes to Italy via Greece. United Nations data <a href="https://data2.unhcr.org/en/situations/mediterranean" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shows</a> that 71,000 people arrived in southern Europe via sea this year, with nearly 6,500 arriving in Greece. More than 1,000 have died taking these sea routes this year. The country also took in 70,000 Ukrainian refugees in 2022.
Immigration was a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/21/world/europe/greece-elections-migrants-mitsotakis.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">key issue</a> in the 2023 Greek Legislative Election. Mitsotakis defended his strict immigration policies, including <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/14/world/europe/greece-migrants-abandoning-sea.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">expelling</a> asylum seekers by sea and sending them to Turkey.
In 2022, a U.N. report <a href="https://mena.iom.int/news/deaths-migration-routes-mena-highest-2017-iom-2022-data-reveals" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found</a> that migration deaths were at their highest since 2017, with 84% of those who died traveling from the Middle East and North Africa to Europe via sea routes going unidentified.

Travel Destination: Greece

Dozens Die In Migrant Shipwreck Near Greek Coast

Disasters

Greece

Immigrants

Italy

Libya

Migrants

This article is adapted from today’s Morning Wire Afternoon Update. To listen to the podcast version, click <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/podcasts/morning-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/8-people-rescued-after-apartment-building-partially-collapses-in-iowa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">8 People Rescued After Apartment Building Partially Collapses In Iowa</a>
Authorities in Davenport, Iowa are conducting a massive search and rescue operation after a six-story apartment building partially collapsed Sunday evening. So far, authorities have not released the number of any possible casualties or injuries. It’s unclear what caused the building to crumble, but officials say that they found a gas leak and water leaking when they arrived at the scene. Eight have been saved so far. 
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/top-conservatives-slam-mccarthy-biden-agreement-with-republicans-like-these-who-needs-democrats" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Debt Deal Latest</a>
President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevi. McCarthy (R-CA) struck a deal over the weekend to raise the nation’s debt ceiling – with the clock ticking down on default. The Democratic president and Republican House speaker reached a final agreement late on Sunday, as negotiators scrambled to draft and submit the bill text for review. The text includes various spending cuts and increased work requirements for food stamp recipients, which Democrats had initially called a non-starter. Congress has until June 5th to vote on the measure. We’ll discuss the latest on the negotiations tomorrow morning. 
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/target-loses-10-billion-in-just-ten-days-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Target Down $10 Billion</a>
Retail giant Target has lost $10 billion in market capitalization in ten days, apparently due in large part to the backlash over prominent LGBTQ+ PRIDE displays – including transgender-friendly clothing items for children. As of Monday morning, the stock price had dropped to under $140 per share which translates to a 14% decrease in value for the Minnesota-based company.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/attorney-says-university-of-idaho-victims-families-want-death-penalty-for-accused-killer-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Idaho Murder Victims&#8217; Families Want Death Penalty</a>
The families of two of the four victims slain in the University of Idaho killings last year reportedly have signaled that they support the death penalty for the 28-year-old man accused of the quadruple murder. The suspect was indicted on charges including first-degree murder of four friends and college students — Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, and Madison Mogen — who were stabbed to death on November 13, 2022. 
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-impeached-temporarily-suspended-pending-senate-trial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Texas AG Impeached</a>
Following an investigation into allegations of corruption, the Texas House of Representatives took the unprecedented move to impeach Attorney General <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ken-paxton">Ken Paxton</a> on Saturday.  
The vote triggered an automatic temporary suspension of Paxton until the state senate trial is over. Paxton faces 20 articles of impeachment — including accusations of violating the state’s whistleblower law, entering into a settlement agreement with the whistleblowers that provides for payment of the settlement from public funds,” violating the Securities Act, and more. Paxton has slammed the impeachment as “illegal, unethical, and profoundly unjust” after the vote. Now, the state senate will begin its trial which requires two-thirds support for the removal of the attorney general. We’ll have a full report tomorrow morning. 
<a href="https://www.axios.com/2023/05/28/erdogan-wins-turkey-election-runoff" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Recep Tayyip Erdogan  Re-election</a>
Turkey’s incumbent president <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/turkey-elections-president-erdogan-early-results/">Recep Tayyip Erdogan cruised to re-election</a> in a historic run-off vote over the weekend. Turkey&#8217;s Supreme Election Council declared Erdogan the winner on Sunday, and he will now remain in office until 2028. Ergodan, who has been in office since 2008, said “The only winner today is Turkey.”  His supporters filled the streets of Turkey in celebration.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
BREAKING — Erdogan declares victory in Turkey’s runoff elections 
“The winner of this election is all 85 million strong Turkish nation,” he says 
 <a href="https://t.co/ijEuuK0kF1">pic.twitter.com/ijEuuK0kF1</a>
&mdash; Ragıp Soylu (@ragipsoylu) <a href="https://twitter.com/ragipsoylu/status/1662873710192128002?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Memorial Day

Monday Afternoon Update: Target Down $10 Billion, Debt Deal Latest, Rescue Efforts Underway In Davenport Iowa After Building Collapse

Attorney General

Idaho

Iowa

Target

Texas

This article is adapted from today’s Morning Wire Afternoon Update. To listen to the podcast version, click <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/podcasts/morning-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/north-carolina-republicans-override-democrat-governors-veto-on-abortion-ban" target="_blank" rel="noopener">North Carolina GOP Overrides Democrat Abortion Ban Veto </a>
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/north-carolina" target="_blank" rel="noopener">North Carolina</a> Republicans voted to override Democratic Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/roy-cooper" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Roy Cooper</a>’s veto of a 12-week abortion ban, using their supermajority to put the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/pro-life" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pro-life measure</a> into law.
The law bans abortions after the first trimester with exceptions for rape or incest until 20 weeks and fetal abnormalities until 24 weeks. The override required all Republicans in the state House, including a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pushed-me-out-north-carolina-democrat-defects-hands-gop-veto-proof-control-of-legislature" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently defected Democrat</a>, to vote together. The governor had <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/north-carolina-heads-toward-veto-showdown-over-abortion-limits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hoped to flip Republicans</a> on the edge of the issue, arguing that it would lead “to harm for pregnant women and their families,” but was unable to do so. The House voted 72-48 to implement the abortion ban.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/philadelphia-democratic-mayoral-primary-winner-hospitalized-misses-victory-party" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Philly Democratic Mayoral Nominee Hospitalized</a>
Cherelle Parker, who on Tuesday won the Democratic nomination for Philadelphia’s upcoming mayoral election, was hospitalized later that same day, causing her to miss her victory celebration.
50-year-old Cherelle Parker, who campaigned largely on addressing the city’s recent crime wave, won the Democratic primary with 33% of the vote, defeating former city comptroller Rebecca Rhynhart and progressive candidate Helen Gym. Shortly after her victory, Parker was hospitalized after what her campaign described as “a recent dental issue that required immediate medical attention.” Parker will take on Republican David Oh in the November 7 general election.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fox-news-replaces-its-entire-primetime-lineup-names-3-new-shows-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Is This Fox News&#8217; New Prime Time Line Up?</a>
Cable networks Fox News and CNN are both making changes to their primetime lineup. The Drudge Report reported today that Sean Hannity will take over Fox’s 8 p.m. time slot left open by the firing of Tucker Carlson. That same report states that Jesse Watters and Greg Gutfield will also be shifting into primetime. However, Fox News denied the reporting, issuing a statement saying, &#8220;&#8230;no decision has been made on a new prime-time lineup.” Meanwhile, CNN did announce that Kaitlan Collins — who moderated the recent Donald Trump town hall — will take the helm at the network’s 9:00 p.m. show, which had belonged to Chris Cuomo and then Don Lemon.
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<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/last-ship-leave-ukraine-fate-black-sea-grain-deal-russias-hands-2023-05-17/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ukraine Grain Deal</a>
The governments of Ukraine and Turkey announced an extension of the deal which allows Ukrainian grain to be exported from Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea. Turkey’s president told the media that the deal would be extended for 60 days. The original deal was set to expire this Thursday, and the extension was brokered by the United Nations. Here’s UN World Programme Director Cindy McCain, wife of the late U.S. Senator John McCain, speaking to the importance of the agreement:
<blockquote>Yes, they must renew the deal. … Ukraine used to be pretty much the breadbasket of Europe. And now that&#8217;s not happening. And the grain, we need to get the grain out because it&#8217;s affecting other countries.</blockquote>
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/elizabeth-holmes-must-report-to-prison-pay-452-million-in-restitution" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Elizabeth Holmes Must Report To Prison, Pay $452 Million In Restitution</a>
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has rejected convicted fraudster Elizabeth Holmes’ bid to remain out of prison while she appeals the convictions against her.
Holmes, the founder and CEO of failed blood-testing company <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/theranos" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Theranos</a>, will have to report to prison, leaving behind her current partner and her two young children, both of whom she had after being charged with fraud. According to AP, a date has not been set for when Holmes will have to report to prison. The decision comes nearly three weeks after Holmes’ legal team successfully delayed her sentence from her original start date of April 27.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/elizabeth-holmes-must-report-to-prison-pay-452-million-in-restitution" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Prince Harry And Meghan Involved In Car Chase?</a>
And, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, along with Markle’s mother, Doria Ragland, claim that they were involved in a car chase with paparazzi for over two hours Tuesday night. A spokesperson for the family described the incident as “near catastrophic” and that it happened following an event in New York City where Markle received a “Woman of Vision” award. The spokesperson also said it was a “relentless pursuit” that “resulted in multiple near collisions involving other drivers on the road, pedestrians, and two NYPD officers.”
The New York Police Department stated that there were no collisions, injuries, or arrests made. The couple’s cab driver who was interviewed by the Washington Post stated, “I don’t think I would call it a ‘chase.’ I never felt like I was in danger.”
Harry’s mother, the late Princess Diana, died in a car wreck in 1997 in Paris, France. Some, including Harry, have <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/william-and-harry-on-dianas-death/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">blamed</a> the wreck on the paparazzi.
To listen to the audio version of this podcast, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/morning-wire/id1576594336" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here</a>. And for more in-depth discussion of the biggest stories of the day, listen to the latest full episode of Morning Wire every morning.

Wednesday

Wednesday Afternoon Update: North Carolina GOP Overrides Abortion Ban Veto, Ukraine Grain Deal Extended, Fox News’ New Primetime Line Up?

Wednesday Afternoon Update: North Carolina GOP Overrides Abortion Ban Veto, Ukraine Grain Deal Extended, Fox News' New Prime Time Line Up??

Abortion

Fox News

Meghan Markle

North Carolina

U.S.

Ukraine

Russian and Ukrainian diplomats tussled over the flag of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ukraine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ukraine</a> at a meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Community in Ankara, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/turkey" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Turkey</a>, on Thursday.
A representative from Ukraine was posing for a photograph while holding the flag when a representative from Russia walked over, ripped the flag away, and walked toward an exit. The Ukrainian member chased him, throwing several punches at the Russian’s head before taking the flag back.
Bystanders rushed in to pull the men apart and keep them separated.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
🥊 In Ankara 🇹🇷, during the events of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Community, the representative of Russia 🇷🇺 tore the flag of Ukraine 🇺🇦 from the hands of a 🇺🇦 Member of Parliament.
The 🇺🇦 MP then punched the Russian in the face. <a href="https://t.co/zUM8oK4IyN">pic.twitter.com/zUM8oK4IyN</a>
&mdash; Jason Jay Smart (@officejjsmart) <a href="https://twitter.com/officejjsmart/status/1654169241237454876?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 4, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation was <a href="https://www.bundestag.de/en/europe/international/interparl_orga/pabsec/pabsec-198038" target="_blank" rel="noopener">founded</a> in 1993 to foster cooperation and closer economic ties between countries in the region. Russia and Ukraine were two of the founding members along with Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Romania, and Turkey. The group has since expanded to include Bulgaria, Greece, and Serbia.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year strained those relationships, according to <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/05/04/ukraine-russia-black-sea-delegates-fight/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Telegraph</a>.
At an event and during remarks from a Russian diplomat, some of Ukraine’s delegation rushed into the room shouting and waving a Ukrainian flag. The Ukrainians protested another time when a member of the Russian delegation addressed the assembly while wearing a St George’s ribbon, which the Ukrainians saw as a symbol of Russian aggression.
The Ukrainians were so enraged that they pushed away security personnel who stepped in to quiet the conference. The speaker of the Turkish parliament, Mustafa Sentop, ejected the Ukrainians and instructed delegates to protest orally.
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“There is nothing wrong with this. If attempts are made to hold actions, the site of today&#8217;s meeting will cease to be a parliamentary event and turn into a street movement,” he said.
The tensions at the assembly come on the heels of Russia accusing Ukraine and the U.S. of collaborating on an attempt to assassinate Russian President Vladimir Putin by sending two drones to the Kremlin. Moscow reported shooting down two drones that flew over the Kremlin earlier this week, causing them to crash into the building. The Kremlin said that the incident did not harm any people or property.
The U.S. and Ukraine have both <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/kyiv-only-does-what-it-is-told-to-do-russia-says-u-s-behind-alleged-kremlin-drone-attack" target="_blank" rel="noopener">denied</a> any involvement in the alleged incident.
“Mr. Peskov is lying, obviously. It’s a ludicrous claim. The United States had nothing to do with this. We don’t even know exactly what happened here,” U.S. national security spokesman John Kirby told CNN Thursday morning, referring to a Kremlin spokesman. “I can assure you the United States had no role in it whatsoever.”
“We neither encourage nor enable Ukraine to strike outside Ukraine’s borders,” he added.

Ukraine flag

WATCH: Ukrainian Diplomat Swings At Russian Attempting To Steal Flag

Russia

Ukraine-Russia War

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/finland" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Finland</a> is expected to officially join <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/nato" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NATO</a> in the coming days as tensions between Europe and Russia remain high over the war in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ukraine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ukraine</a>. 
Finland&#8217;s entrance into the intergovernmental military organization comes after Turkey became the final NATO member to approve the Nordic country’s application for membership, which <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/finland-moves-to-join-nato-despite-russian-warnings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was first filed</a> in May 2022. 
“Finland will formally join our Alliance in the coming days. Their membership will make Finland safer and NATO stronger. I look forward to also welcoming Sweden as a full member of the NATO family as soon as possible,” <a href="https://twitter.com/MarinSanna" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Jens Stoltenberg, NATO’s secretary general. 
The move, which was opposed by Russia, comes as Sweden is also attempting to join the alliance, which has vigorously opposed Russia during its war with Ukraine. 
“NATO membership will strengthen Finland’s security and improve stability and security in the Baltic Sea region and Northern Europe,” Finland’s government <a href="https://twitter.com/FinGovernment/status/1641549957864857601" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> after Turkey approved their membership. 
Turkey had <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/31/finland-to-formally-join-nato-within-days-nato-announces" target="_blank" rel="noopener">voiced</a> objections to Finland’s support for certain Kurdish groups which it opposes. Those concerns were apparently rectified before Turkey voted to accept Finland. 
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been supportive of allowing both Finland and Sweden into the organization. “Both countries have taken significant, concrete actions to fulfill their commitments, including those related to the security concerns on the part of our ally, Turkey,” he <a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-finland-government-united-states-sweden-d15bd339dd4c5a01dd8dcba23ba1efe0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in December. “As their membership process continues, the United States is fully committed to Finland and Sweden’s accession.”
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/sanna-marin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sanna Marin</a> first announced their intent to join NATO nearly a year ago at a joint news conference in Helsinki. The long-neutral nation shares an 830-mile-long border with Russia, which has spooked neighboring nations with its attack on Ukraine.
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NATO was founded in 1949 to counter the threat from the Soviet Union. Russian President Vladimir Putin has complained that it is encroaching on his country and blamed Ukraine’s desire to join as one of the reasons for the ongoing invasion. The last country to join was North Macedonia in 2020. 
According to NATO stipulations, an attack on one is an attack on all, meaning that all member countries are obligated to get involved when one is attacked. 
Stoltenberg <a href="https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_213124.htm?selectedLocale=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently said</a> that he believes that NATO members need to increase military production of weapons and ammunition to sustain “support for Ukraine.”

EU Leaders Convene For Special Meeting As Russia Invades Ukraine

Major Northern European Country To Join NATO As Tensions With Russia Rise

Antony Blinken

Europe

Finland

NATO

Sanna Marin

Sweden

The devastating earthquakes that hit Turkey and Syria last week brought death to more than 40,000 people – a number that continues to rise – and homelessness to at least a million. Rescue and recovery efforts, while hampered by weather and logistical issues, have been ongoing. The United States, European Union, Red Cross, and numerous other countries and organizations have <a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-syria-government-turkey-medical-technology-730fb5689d8c92863cdcb8affbd39d2d" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sent</a> aid, rescue teams, food, shelter, and other forms of assistance to the region.
The earthquakes also caused severe damage and destruction to roads, buildings, and important historical sites. Among those sites was a nearly 2,000-year-old Roman-era fortress called the Gaziantep Castle, regarded as “one of the most beautiful examples of surviving castles in Turkey.”
<div id="attachment_502248" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-502248" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-502248" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GettyImages-157614742-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/02/GettyImages-157614742-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/02/GettyImages-157614742-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/02/GettyImages-157614742-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/02/GettyImages-157614742-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/02/GettyImages-157614742-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/02/GettyImages-157614742-1800x1200.jpg 1800w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/02/GettyImages-157614742-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Getty Images</div>
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck last Monday could be <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/at-least-1600-dead-after-massive-earthquakes-rock-the-middle-east" target="_blank" rel="noopener">felt</a> as far as Lebanon, Israel, and Egypt. The quake&#8217;s epicenter was in the southern part of the country, in the Gaziantep province, about 75 miles north of Aleppo, Syria. Nine hours later, another massive quake registering a magnitude of 7.5 struck <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2023/02/07/earthquake-turkey-syria-causes-damage/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">about</a> 60 miles north of the first. As the name suggests, the Gaziantep province – the epicenter – is home to the Gaziantep Castle.
As one of the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/10/world/middleeast/earthquake-turkey-syria-toll-aid.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">deadliest</a> natural disasters this century, the earthquake caused severe damage and partial destruction to the Gaziantep Castle. Sections of the ancient castle’s iron railings and stone walls have collapsed, and large cracks have been observed in some bastions, according to a <a href="https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/gundem/depremde-tarihi-gaziantep-kalesi-de-hasar-gordu/2807373" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> by the state-run Anadolu Agency. The retaining wall has also collapsed. Much of the damage, which came from the south, southeast, and eastern parts of the castle, caused debris to be scattered on the sidewalks and streets below the hilltop the castle is perched on. Before and after pictures paint a dark picture of the state of the historic site.
<div id="attachment_502244" style="width: 778px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-502244" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-502244" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GettyImages-1246837159-768x576.jpg" alt="" width="768" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/02/GettyImages-1246837159-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/02/GettyImages-1246837159-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/02/GettyImages-1246837159-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/02/GettyImages-1246837159.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" />Mehmet Akif Parlak/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images</div>
While there is no definitive account of when Gaziantep Castle was built, it was likely constructed during the second and third centuries to be used as a Roman watchtower.. Though the mound the castle is built on dates to the Chalcolithic period — also called the copper age — about 6,000 years ago, <a href="https://www.gaziantep.bel.tr/tr/tarihi-ve-kulturel-eserler/gaziantep-kalesi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to the Gaziantep website. The site has also been <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/historic-sites-damaged-earthquakes-turkey-syria-unesco-rcna69341" target="_blank" rel="noopener">traced</a> back to the ancient Hittite Empire, where it was likely <a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/02/06/1154806617/earthquake-turkey-historic-gaziantep-castle" target="_blank" rel="noopener">used</a> as an observation point.
It was Byzantine Emperor Justinian (527-565 A.D.) who greatly <a href="https://www.gaziantep.bel.tr/tr/tarihi-ve-kulturel-eserler/gaziantep-kalesi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">expanded</a> the castle in the sixth century A.D., though many repairs and overhauls have occurred since. During Justinian’s fortification, the structure took much of its current form of an irregular circular shape with towers and a surrounding moat. While today there are 12 towers, at one point there may have been up to 36, <a href="https://www.gaziantep.bel.tr/tr/tarihi-ve-kulturel-eserler/gaziantep-kalesi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to Ottoman explorer Evliya Çelebi’s travel book. Turkey’s General Directorate for Cultural Assets and Museums <a href="https://kvmgm.ktb.gov.tr/Eklenti/92065,gaziantep-castlepdf.pdf?0#:~:text=The%20castle%20was%20first%20built,and%20the%20castle%20was%20expanded." target="_blank" rel="noopener">says</a> the castle’s perimeter is nearly 4,000 feet and has a diameter of about 330 feet. 
While the recent earthquakes caused great damage and destruction to the ancient castle, it had largely remained intact throughout the last 2,000 years, even in the face of conquest and battle, changing hands from empire to empire and dynasty to dynasty. 
<div id="attachment_502250" style="width: 778px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-502250" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-502250" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GettyImages-1246837228-768x576.jpg" alt="" width="768" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/02/GettyImages-1246837228-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/02/GettyImages-1246837228-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/02/GettyImages-1246837228-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/02/GettyImages-1246837228.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" />Mehmet Akif Parlak/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images</div>
After the Roman Empire <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/discover/turkey-earthquake-historic-gaziantep-castle-destroyed?utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=Social_Traffic&amp;utm_content=ap_o1px63glh7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">split</a>, the Byzantines took control of Gaziantep. The reign of Justinian, who was emperor during the first major revitalization of the castle, brought great territorial expansion to the Byzantine empire, and his <a href="https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/just/hd_just.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">goal</a> was to return the empire to its ancient glory. Justinian was known for his prowess in architectural production, waging a campaign to remake the ancient capital Byzantium, <a href="https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/just/hd_just.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to The Met Museum. 
Being under the Christian control of the Byzantine empire, the castle then <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/discover/turkey-earthquake-historic-gaziantep-castle-destroyed?utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=Social_Traffic&amp;utm_content=ap_o1px63glh7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed</a> to the Islamic hands of the Umayyad dynasty in 661 A.D.  After remaining in Islamic hands for the next 300 years, the Byzantines retook Gaziantep in 962. Just over 100 years later, the Seljuk Empire took control of the city. 
Following the Seljuk conquest, the city changed hands multiple times in a period of great uncertainty. Christian Crusaders captured the castle in 1098, and it <a href="https://www.castles.nl/gaziantep-castle" target="_blank" rel="noopener">became</a> part of the Crusader state County of Edessa. After the Crusaders, the city went to numerous groups before 1181, when the Ayyubid dynasty <a href="https://www.castles.nl/gaziantep-castle" target="_blank" rel="noopener">took</a> control. <a href="https://kvmgm.ktb.gov.tr/Eklenti/92065,gaziantep-castlepdf.pdf?0#:~:text=The%20castle%20was%20first%20built,and%20the%20castle%20was%20expanded" target="_blank" rel="noopener">During</a> the time of the Ayybuids in the 13th century, Malmuks, Dulkadir Principality, and the Ottoman period the castle largely came to resemble what was seen prior to the quakes, according to the Turkish General Directorate for Cultural Assets and Museums. 
Control of Gaziantep flipped frequently between the Ilkhanate, <a href="https://www.worldhistory.org/Ilkhanate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">part</a> of the Mongol Empire, and the Mamluks leading up to the capture by the Ottoman Empire. The castle <a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/02/06/1154806617/earthquake-turkey-historic-gaziantep-castle" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lost</a> much of its military significance when the Ottoman Empire took it in 1516. 
In recent years, the castle housed the Gaziantep Defense and Heroism Panoramic Museum, a popular tourist attraction. The site was included in the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage sites <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/06/world/europe/gaziantep-castle-earthquake-damage.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tentative</a> list. 
<div id="attachment_502253" style="width: 778px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-502253" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-502253" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GettyImages-1247076758-768x576.jpg" alt="" width="768" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/02/GettyImages-1247076758-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/02/GettyImages-1247076758-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/02/GettyImages-1247076758-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/02/GettyImages-1247076758-2048x1536.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" />The aerial photo taken on Feb. 10, 2023 shows Gaziantep Castle damaged in the devastating earthquakes in Gaziantep, Türkiye. Getty Images.</div>
Beginning in 2020, archeologists with the Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Protection and Implementation Inspection Office began <a href="https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/gaziantep-castles-extensive-historical-tunnels-caves-unearthed/news" target="_blank" rel="noopener">studying</a> over half a mile of underground tunnels and caves to find the source of “fresh-brackish water” that had previously been an urban legend. Two years later, they found the tunnel exits. Additionally, crosses believed to be from the Romans were found throughout the tunnels, Daily Sabah <a href="https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/gaziantep-castles-extensive-historical-tunnels-caves-unearthed/news" target="_blank" rel="noopener">notes</a>. These new discoveries were set to be exhibited to the public sometime near the end of 2022. 
While the total cost of these earthquakes is still unclear, a <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/13/turkey-syria-reconstruction-costs-to-come-to-billions-of-dollars-world-bank-says.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> from the nongovernmental Turkish Enterprise and Business Confederation estimates that quakes cost the Turkish economy $84.1 billion. And with Turkey and Syria being well-known for their ancient history, it’s clear that Gaziantep’s iconic castle was not the only major historical site damaged or destroyed. A UNESCO survey notes the organization is “<a href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2521" target="_blank" rel="noopener">particularly concerned</a>” for Aleppo, Syria, which was <a href="https://www.apollo-magazine.com/art-news-earthquakes-turkey-syria/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">already</a> on the World Heritage in Danger list due to the ongoing Syrian civil war. The citadel in Aleppo has sustained significant damage, according to the organization. 
UNESCO also <a href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1488/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mentions</a> the “collapses of several buildings” at the Diyarbakır Fortress and Hevsel Gardens Cultural Landscape in Turkey, a fortified city and place of importance during various times in history, including the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods. 
At least 1,700 buildings in ten cities in Turkey sustained damage, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/gaziantep-castle-destroyed-turkey-earthquake/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay. But even with the death toll <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/explain/2023/02/14/world/turkey-syria-earthquake" target="_blank" rel="noopener">surpassing</a> 40,000 and severe destruction felt in the region, there are still <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/miracle-baby-newborn-found-alive-under-earthquake-rubble-with-umbilical-cord-still-attached-to-dead-mother" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hopeful stories</a> being reported of rescue – over a week since the disaster.

Gaziantep Castle

Empires And Conquests: The History Of A Roman-Era Castle Partially Destroyed In The Devastating Turkey-Syria Earthquake 

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