The Islamist member of parliament Hasan Bitmez, who had warned that Israel would face consequences, passed away in a hospital this Thursday, two days after suffering a heart attack while at parliament. The statement about his death came from the health minister, Fahrettin Koca, who noted that Bitmez’s condition had begun to deteriorate the night before.
The 53-year-old Saadet party deputy delivered a forceful address at the Turkish Grand National Assembly, strongly criticizing the bombardments in Gaza and describing them as a punishment for the Hamas attacks on October 7. In that tense moment he spoke about moral responsibilities and the human cost of the ongoing conflict, urging his colleagues to consider the wider impact of the violence on civilians.
The oration was marked by a sense of urgency and a call to accountability. He pressed the assembly to confront the suffering caused by the fighting and to confront the consequences that such actions have on the global conscience. He warned that national leaders must reflect on history and its lessons, insisting that the weight of compassion could not be ignored as events unfolded on the world stage.
Throughout his remarks, Bitmez was openly critical of Israel and of the ruling AK party led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, portraying the political dynamic in Turkey as one where much more direct consideration of the humanitarian toll was needed. His words reflected a broader concern within certain segments of Turkish opposition about the conduct of regional conflict and the responsibilities of all involved parties.
Prior to his collapse, he also pointed to what he viewed as inaction by the AKP in addressing the broader war between Israel and Hamas, suggesting that mere rhetorical condemnation could not suffice when civilians were bearing the brunt of the violence. He pressed for substantive steps aimed at de-escalation and protection of civilians, arguing that tough questions about war and peace should not be avoided by political leaders.