Qandil Municipality Co-Mayor Hesen Mihemed stated that the massacre in Zergêle village targeted humanity, and the Turkish state’s aim was to clear Qandil of people.

Speaking to ANF, Mihemed reported that 8 civilians died and 11 civilians got injured during Turkish warplanes’ bombardment of Zergêle village, and called upon the United Nations, Iraqi Government, and Kurdistan Regional Government to make an effort towards stopping Turkish state attacks on Medya Defense Zones. Mihemed emphasized that those who supported Turkish state attacks were also responsible for the massacre, and the Turkish state was aiming to clear Qandil of people and turn it a warzone. Mihemed said that the Turkish state was planning to use all sorts of weapons including chemical weapons in Qandil, and called upon Qandil residents to frustrate the plans of the Turkish state by not abandoning their lands and houses.

Emine Mihemed from Qandil stated that being Kurdish was the only ‘fault’ of the massacred civilians, and called upon international powers to address this issue. Mihemed emphasized that the actions of AKP officials, who describe themselves as Muslim, had nothing to do with Islam or humanity. Mihemed ended her statement by inviting Massoud Barzani to take a stance against this massacre and other attacks by the AKP government.