While reacting to Israel’s attacks on Gaza, Erdoğan said: “What is happening in Gaza is a crime against humanity. Israel should not get away with its crimes. The importance of the establishment of a Palestinian state was seen once again. For this purpose, we declared that we are ready to take responsibility together with the countries in the region, including as guarantors.
With the Organization of Islamic Cooperation-Arab League Extraordinary Joint Summit held in Riyadh, we have clearly and unequivocally demonstrated our solidarity with the Palestinian people. This joint stance on the Gaza crisis has set an example for the countries of the region to take ownership of our problems. It is important that we follow up on the decisions taken at the Summit. The Contact Group of Foreign Ministers held meetings in various countries and will continue to do so. We appreciate Qatar’s efforts to ensure a short-term humanitarian respite in Gaza and prisoner exchange.
‘WE ARE READY FOR GUARANTEES’
Of course, we had hoped that this chapter would turn into a permanent ceasefire, but this did not happen. The Netenyahu administration is jeopardizing the security and future of our entire region for the sake of extending its political life. The loss of 17 thousand innocent Palestinian lives, mostly children and women, is a crime against humanity, a war crime. Israel must not get away with these crimes. As Turkey, we continue to increase our humanitarian aid to the region. To date, we have dispatched 12 airplanes and 2 civilian ships full of aid materials to El Arish. We have ensured the transfer of the wounded, especially cancer patients and children, to Turkey. Our priority is to immediately declare a permanent ceasefire and ensure the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid. With the latest developments, the importance of the establishment of an independent, sovereign Palestinian state on the basis of the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital has once again become clear. To this end, we have declared our readiness to take responsibility together with the countries in the region, including as guarantors.
‘WE INVITE ALL ACTORS TO COOPERATE’
We must not allow the atrocities in Gaza to turn into a regional war that will involve Syria. The biggest obstacle to the stabilization of Syria is the separatist terrorist elements, particularly the PKK, PYD and YPG, which threaten the territorial integrity and unity of Syria. We expect all our brothers and sisters to be vigilant against the efforts of these terrorist organizations to legitimize themselves. We aim for a political solution to the Syrian conflict on the basis of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254. It is also necessary to create the necessary conditions for the voluntary and safe return of Syrians. We invite all actors to cooperate in this direction.
We follow with satisfaction the efforts of the Gulf Cooperation Council to strengthen its institutional structure. I am convinced that this deepening, which goes hand in hand with the enlargement, will open different horizons for the Council. I would like to emphasize again that we are ready to advance our close contacts and strategic cooperation with the Gulf region on the basis of common interests and mutual respect.
