Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has praised the profound solidarity between Türkiye and Palestine following an emotive friendly football match hosted in the central Turkish province of Konya. The president described the encounter between Konyaspor and the Palestine national football team as an exceptional example of the brotherhood, unity, and shared hearts between the two nations in a message shared on the X platform.
Erdogan conveyed his most heartfelt greetings and affection to the visiting Palestinian squad, who traveled to Türkiye for the event, as well as to the wider Palestinian population enduring ongoing conflict. He also thanked the local supporters in Konya who filled the 42,000-capacity stadium to welcome the Palestinian team and display collective backing for the Palestinian cause.
Highlighting the broader significance of the match, the president noted that the fixture served as an urgent reminder to the international community regarding the ongoing tragedy and genocide unfolding in Palestine and Gaza. He affirmed that Türkiye will continue to stand in solidarity with its Palestinian and Gazan brothers and sisters, defend their rights on the international stage, and demonstrate support in the strongest possible way.
The match, held on Wednesday evening, served as the centerpiece of Palestine Day commemorations in Konya, featuring tributes designed to draw global attention to the thousands of children who have lost their lives in Palestine. On the pitch, the game proved highly competitive. Konyaspor took an early lead with a goal from Melih Ibrahimoglu in the second minute, but the Palestine national team responded with two goals from Mohammed Sandouqa in the 12th and 25th minutes. Konyaspor striker Mostafa Mohamed equalized in the 28th minute, and despite an energetic second half, the game concluded in a 2–2 draw.
