Ankara: Trkiye has mobilized all of its resources and diplomatic capabilities to bring hope to Gaza, declared President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday following a Cabinet meeting in Ankara. "We will not allow (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu and his murderous network to drag our region into even greater calamities to prolong their political lives," Erdogan asserted.
According to Anadolu Agency, Erdogan emphasized that Trkiye has been the most vocal against the "atrocities, barbarism, massacres, torture, and oppression committed by the terror state Israel against our Palestinian brothers and sisters." He reiterated that the nation, along with NGOs, foundations, and associations, continues to support the people of Gaza and expressed a desire to see Gaza achieve peace, freedom, and stability.
Erdogan also highlighted Trkiye's role as the term president of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, mentioning that they have called for an extraordinary meeting of foreign ministers to address the situation. "We are doing whatever is necessary to stop the brutality in Gaza and ensure uninterrupted humanitarian aid reaches our Gazan brothers suffering from hunger," he added.
Israel is facing increasing condemnation for its actions in Gaza, where its military campaign has resulted in nearly 61,500 deaths since October 2023. The campaign has severely impacted the enclave, which is also experiencing famine-related deaths.
In another significant development, Erdogan spoke on the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace deal. He noted that the liberation of Karabakh after 30 years of occupation signifies the beginning of a new era in the region. He described the peace deal, initialed in Washington, DC, on August 8, as "a historic step toward establishing lasting peace in the South Caucasus."
Erdogan expressed optimism that the establishment of a peaceful environment, along with the revival of road and rail links, the opening of border gates, and the free flow of trade, would benefit all countries in the region. Armenia and Azerbaijan have engaged in a series of cross-border wars since the late 1980s, including the most recent conflict in 2023, when Azerbaijan regained control of Karabakh.