ISTANBUL, Oct 28 - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan addressed a massive crowd at a pro-Palestinian rally in Istanbul, stirring controversy and potentially overshadowing the upcoming centenary celebrations of Turkey's secular republic. The rally, one of the largest since the Israel-Hamas conflict began, saw hundreds of thousands of supporters waving Palestinian flags while Erdogan made fiery statements against Israel.

During his hour-long speech, Erdogan condemned Israel's actions, accusing the country of committing war crimes for 22 days. He criticized Western leaders for their perceived inaction and pledged to declare Israel a war criminal. Erdogan reiterated his stance that Hamas was not a terrorist organization but referred to them as "freedom fighters."

Unlike some NATO allies, the European Union, and Gulf states, Turkey does not consider Hamas a terrorist organization and has offered to negotiate the release of hostages taken during the recent Hamas assault. Political analysts believe Erdogan's rhetoric against Israel is an attempt to reinforce his criticism of the Israeli bombardment of Gaza. They also suggest that pressure from political allies and the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza contributed to Erdogan's sharpened tone.

Despite the significance of Sunday's celebrations marking Turkey's secular roots and the 100th anniversary of Modern Turkey, Erdogan's pro-Palestinian rally threatens to dominate the headlines. Erdogan's invitation to all Turks resulted in a massive turnout, with his Islamist-rooted AK Party predicting more than a million attendees at the rally.

Critics argue that Erdogan's positioning alongside the images of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the secular republic, symbolizes a departure from Ataturk's Western-facing ideals. As Erdogan's portraits adorn government buildings and schools alongside those of Ataturk, there is growing concern about the erosion of support for Turkey's secular roots.

Some political observers view Erdogan's comments about Hamas as an attempt to capitalize on anti-Israel sentiment among domestic audiences and consolidate support from Turkey's Sunni conservatives. While Ankara has reassured the public that the Israel-Hamas conflict will not impede the centennial celebrations, the pro-Palestinian rally's magnitude could potentially steal the spotlight on this momentous occasion.

As Turkey prepares to commemorate its 100th anniversary, the focus may shift from honoring the secular republic to discussions surrounding Erdogan's controversial statements and Turkey's evolving political landscape.