Istanbul: Trkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has firmly stated that his country will not relinquish any artifact belonging to Jerusalem to Israel. This declaration was made in response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent remarks regarding the Silvan Epigraph, a historical artifact held by Trkiye.

According to Anadolu Agency, Erdogan addressed the issue during his speech at TEKNOFEST, Trkiye's leading aviation, space, and technology event. He criticized Netanyahu for his demands, stating, "He is spewing hatred at us because we didn't give him the Silvan Epigraph, which is a legacy of the ancestors." The Silvan Inscription is recognized as a significant ancient Hebrew artifact housed in the Istanbul Archaeology Museum.

TEKNOFEST, organized by the Industry and Technology Ministry and the T3 Foundation, is the world's largest technology festival and is being held at the Istanbul Ataturk Airport from September 17-21. The event demonstrates Trkiye's advancements in technology and innovation.

Netanyahu had previously claimed that he requested the return of the Silvan Epigraph, originally discovered in East Jerusalem during the Ottoman period and later brought to the Istanbul Archaeology Museum. However, Erdogan's firm stance prevented its return.

Erdogan further criticized Netanyahu, accusing him of having the blood of 65,000 innocent Gazans on his hands. He emphasized Jerusalem's significance, stating, "Quds is the honor, dignity, and pride of all humanity, including Muslims." Erdogan assured that Trkiye would continue to support the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, adhering to the 1967 borders.