Turkey: Erdogan Calls for Gaza to Be Part of Independent Palestinian State

ANKARA: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has made a significant statement, expressing his support for Gaza's inclusion in an independent, sovereign Palestinian state following the Israel-Hamas conflict. He emphasized Turkey's commitment to a two-state solution and its refusal to back any initiatives that would gradually erase the Palestinian people from history. This declaration underscores Turkey's sharp escalation of criticism against Israel amid the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Erdogan, who openly hosts members of Hamas and does not classify the group as a terrorist organization, in contrast to Western countries like the US and Britain, has called for an immediate ceasefire and offered to establish a mechanism to guarantee it. His recent remarks came during a press conference on his return from Kazakhstan.

The Turkish President continued to criticize Western nations for their unwavering support for Israel, stating that Ankara's trust in the European Union had been severely shaken. Erdogan outlined his vision for the future, stating, "Once all of this that is happening is finished, we want to see Gaza as a peaceful region that is a part of an independent Palestinian state, in line with the 1967 borders, with territorial integrity, and with East Jerusalem as its capital."

Erdogan firmly expressed his commitment to supporting formulas that would bring peace and stability to the region. He made it clear that he would not support any plans that would further darken the lives of Palestinians or gradually erase their presence from the historical narrative.

Additionally, Erdogan mentioned that his intelligence chief, Ibrahim Kalin, was in contact with Israeli and Palestinian authorities, as well as Hamas. However, he made it clear that he would no longer consider Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a diplomatic counterpart, holding him responsible for the situation in Gaza. Erdogan stated, "Netanyahu cannot in any way be taken as a counterpart for us anymore. We have erased him, thrown him out." Nevertheless, he acknowledged that in international diplomacy, complete severance of ties is rarely feasible.

Before the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict, Turkey had been working to mend its strained relations with Israel after years of animosity.

Erdogan also disclosed that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi would visit Turkey at the end of November and that he would attend an Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Riyadh later in the month to discuss a ceasefire in Gaza. He stressed that Turkey would support any initiatives aimed at holding Israel accountable for what he described as war crimes and human rights violations, warning that failure to do so could undermine trust in the global system.

President Erdogan's statements reflect Turkey's strong support for an independent Palestinian state encompassing Gaza and its unwavering commitment to achieving a peaceful resolution to the Israel-Hamas conflict. He has also criticized Western nations for their support of Israel and emphasized the need for accountability in the face of alleged war crimes and human rights violations.

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