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Turkish lawmaker dies after suffering heart attack in parliament while criticizing Israel

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An opposition Turkish lawmaker died on Thursday two days after suffering a heart attack and collapsing in front of parliament.

Hasan Bitmez

Hasan Bitmez

An opposition Turkish lawmaker died on Thursday two days after suffering a heart attack and collapsing in front of parliament, as he finished a speech criticizing the government's policy toward Israel. 

Hasan Bitmez, 54, a member of parliament from the opposition Felicity (Saadet) Party, died in Ankara City Hospital, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said told reporters. 

Parliament's official broadcast showed Bitmez collapsing to the floor after having been standing at the podium before the general assembly on Tuesday. 

He had been criticising President Tayyip Erdogan's ruling AK Party (AKP) over Turkey's ongoing trade with Israel despite the war in Gaza, and despite the government's sharp rhetorical criticism of Israel's military bombardment.

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