Türkiye, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan on Friday condemned Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories as the main source of instability in the Middle East and beyond, demanding an urgent end to Israeli violence, illegal settlement expansion and the forced displacement of Palestinians while calling for the immediate implementation of a two-state solution.

In a joint statement issued following the R4 foreign ministers’ meeting in Istanbul, the four countries warned that Israeli policies had deepened a sense of injustice among people worldwide and undermined prospects for lasting regional peace.

The ministers reaffirmed their support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent, sovereign, viable and territorially contiguous Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967, borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

They stressed that implementing a two-state solution in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions was essential to achieving comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

The joint statement also demanded an immediate end to Israeli violence and attempts to alter Jerusalem’s legal and historical status.

The ministers condemned past and ongoing illegal Israeli settlement activities in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, along with attacks by illegal Israeli settlers against Palestinian communities.

They also called for unrestricted humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip and urgent reconstruction efforts to address the devastation and humanitarian suffering caused by the conflict.

R4 calls for diplomacy over Iran, reopening of Hormuz

Addressing the ongoing military confrontation between the U.S., Israel and Iran, the four countries emphasized that dialogue and diplomacy remained the only viable means of resolving the crisis.

The ministers urged all sides to refrain from targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, including commercial vessels, while warning against further military escalation.

They expressed support for the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and welcomed diplomatic initiatives aimed at preventing the conflict from spreading, reaffirming their commitment to a lasting negotiated settlement.

The statement also highlighted the strategic importance of maritime security and freedom of navigation, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for international energy shipments.

The ministers warned that disruptions to major shipping routes threatened global supply chains and the transportation of energy, fertilizers and food, with particularly severe consequences for vulnerable populations.

They rejected measures restricting lawful maritime traffic and demanded the swift restoration of safe, secure and unrestricted passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

The four countries emphasized that protecting international shipping routes required coordinated action by the international community.

Turning to Yemen, the R4 ministers strongly condemned escalating attacks by the Houthi militia, particularly strikes targeting Saudi Arabia and its civilian infrastructure.

They also denounced Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, warning that such actions had intensified humanitarian suffering and threatened regional maritime security.

The ministers expressed solidarity with the governments of Saudi Arabia and Yemen and called on the Houthis to immediately halt military operations, threats and attacks.

They urged the group to return to the political process in good faith, stressing the importance of diplomatic efforts to restore stability in Yemen and the wider region.

Türkiye pledges continued regional diplomatic engagement

The joint statement followed a series of diplomatic meetings hosted by Türkiye, bringing together regional and European powers to address interconnected conflicts and security challenges across the Middle East and Europe.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Türkiye had hosted representatives from eight countries in Istanbul for the R4 and expanded R4+E3 meetings, which also included Britain, Germany, France and Italy.

In a statement shared on social media, Fidan said the discussions addressed regional and global challenges, emphasizing the need for coordinated diplomatic efforts to prevent further instability.

He said participating countries agreed that disputes should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy, guided by the principle of regional ownership.

Fidan also emphasized Türkiye’s determination to continue playing an active role in resolving regional crises, citing its strategic position connecting Europe and the Middle East.

“We hope this initiative, which we have spearheaded, will gain continuity and contribute to peace and stability in our region and beyond,” Fidan said.

“With our central position between the two regions, Türkiye will continue to assume responsibility for resolving regional issues,” he added.

The R4 ministers agreed to maintain close consultations and coordination on the issues discussed, underscoring their commitment to continued diplomatic engagement on regional security, humanitarian challenges and efforts to achieve lasting peace.

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President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Saturday inaugurated five museums at Istanbul’s Topkapı Palace, opening 10,500 artifacts from the palace’s collection to the public following the restoration of the historic Darphane-i Amire complex.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Erdoğan said the restoration had transformed seven buildings containing 46 halls across 17,000 square meters into five museums. The collection includes more than 2,000 examples of Islamic calligraphy that were previously kept in storage and will be displayed for the first time across 12 halls.

The newly opened museums will expand the range of historical and cultural artifacts accessible to visitors at Topkapı Palace, one of the most prominent landmarks of the Ottoman Empire.

Erdoğan said the complex also houses the first arms museum established during the Ottoman period, adding that the restored site had become a museum district that could serve as an example internationally.

“Every part of this treasure reflects a distinct body of knowledge, a refined intuition and an independent understanding of aesthetics, bringing science and wisdom together in a remarkable synthesis,” Erdoğan said, describing Türkiye’s historical and cultural heritage.

He stressed that preserving cultural assets required more than restoring buildings and displaying historical objects. Their significance, he said, lay in protecting the knowledge and traditions they represent and passing them on to future generations.

“Of course, these works are important and valuable. They are treasures of our cultural heritage. But what matters most is preserving this accumulated legacy with a strong sense of awareness, enriching it further and passing it on fully to the generations that follow us,” he said.

Erdoğan also described Topkapı Palace itself as a masterpiece, arguing that Türkiye possesses an exceptional cultural legacy shaped by centuries of history, architecture, art and literature.

Erdoğan criticizes past cultural policies

The president used the ceremony to criticize previous approaches to Westernization, accusing past administrations of neglecting Türkiye’s historical and cultural identity.

He cited the former use of Yıldız Palace as an entertainment venue and casino, the sale of rare manuscripts to foreign buyers as scrap paper, and the conversion of historic mosques into grain warehouses and, in some cases, stables.

Erdoğan said such practices reflected policies that sought to distance the Turkish people from their historical roots and national and spiritual values.

“We were subjected to a policy of stripping people of their identity, one that sought Westernization only in clothing, denied our history and culture, and alienated people from their national and spiritual values,” he said.

He argued that some people continued to reject the country’s historical inheritance and challenge its cultural identity.

“For 24 years, we have not given representatives of this mentality an opportunity. God willing, we will not give them one in the future either,” Erdoğan said, referring to the period under his political leadership.

He added that the newly opened museums provided a response to critics who had questioned the restoration project.

According to Erdoğan, work on the complex began seven years ago, amid allegations that the site was being prepared for use as a presidential office or residence. He said those claims had proved false and that the restoration had instead created a major cultural destination.

“We are working to protect Istanbul’s cultural heritage, keep it alive and pass it on to future generations,” he said.

More than 10,000 artifacts to go on display

The opening marks a significant expansion of the collection on public display at Topkapı Palace.

Erdoğan said the palace’s inventory had previously included 7,500 exhibited works, with the addition of the 10,500 artifacts at the new museums further strengthening its position among the world’s museums.

The newly accessible collection includes more than 2,000 calligraphy works that had remained in storage. Their display across 12 halls will allow visitors to see pieces that had not previously been presented to the public.

The restored Darphane-i Amire complex, whose name refers to the Ottoman imperial mint, has been reorganized to accommodate the five museums while preserving the historic buildings.

The project forms part of broader efforts to restore Ottoman-era landmarks and make their collections accessible to the public.

Edirne Palace restoration also underway

Erdoğan also highlighted ongoing restoration work at Edirne Palace, another major Ottoman imperial complex, promising to revive the historic site.

He said Ottoman sultans had used the palace alongside Topkapı Palace for approximately 300 years and that the government was working to restore the complex to its former prominence.

Erdoğan said the project was expected to be completed next year, describing Edirne Saray-ı Cedid-i Amire as a landmark that would become one of Türkiye’s most impressive historical monuments.

The restoration of Edirne Palace, he added, would contribute to the country’s efforts to preserve its architectural heritage and strengthen its cultural landscape.

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President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Friday received top diplomats from six European and regional countries following the R4+E3 foreign ministers’ talks in Türkiye, as diplomatic efforts intensify to address mounting regional and global tensions.

The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, Pakistani Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.

The diplomats were in Türkiye for the R4 talks involving Türkiye, Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, as well as the expanded R4+E3 format bringing together European counterparts, with Italy also participating.

The first-ever R4+E3 foreign ministers’ meeting kicked off in Istanbul on Friday. Discussions focused on Palestine, the Strait of Hormuz, developments involving Yemen and diplomatic efforts to resolve the Russia-Ukraine war, exploring opportunities for closer cooperation and coordination between the two diplomatic groups.

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Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Friday that eight countries attending talks in Istanbul agreed that any new military attack on Iran would further escalate regional conflicts, stressing that diplomacy and dialogue remain the only viable path toward resolving the crisis.

Speaking at a news conference following a meeting of foreign ministers from the R4 countries – Türkiye, Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia – and the E3 nations – Britain, Germany and France – also attended by Italy, Fidan said participants shared concerns over growing instability in the Middle East and the wider repercussions of ongoing conflicts.

“Nobody currently supports a new attack on Iran,” Fidan said, emphasizing that military intervention would not offer a solution and would instead risk spreading the conflict across the region.

The top Turkish diplomat said Istanbul hosted two rounds of diplomatic consultations, beginning with a meeting of the four regional countries before expanding to discussions with European counterparts.

He said the meetings addressed regional and global challenges, including Israel’s destabilizing role in the Middle East, the situation in the Black Sea and disruptions affecting the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Fidan noted that conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine were placing growing pressure on governments and their citizens, regardless of geographical location, particularly through their economic and financial consequences.

“All countries around the table oppose the further spread of war,” he said, adding that participants wanted an end to hostilities both in the Gulf region and Ukraine.

He said the countries agreed that any renewed military action against Iran would risk expanding the ongoing conflict and further destabilizing the region.

“We agree that diplomacy and dialogue are the only solution and that intervention against Iran is not a solution,” Fidan said.

The minister stressed that the positions of major global powers would be particularly important in determining whether diplomatic efforts could succeed.

He said the discussions focused on identifying appropriate diplomatic mechanisms to prevent further destruction and bring ongoing conflicts to an end.

“There is considerable room for both diplomacy and war,” Fidan said, underscoring the need for international consensus on dialogue as the only viable way forward.

The meeting also highlighted shared concerns over maritime security and disruptions to key international shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb, which have significant implications for global trade and energy markets.

On Türkiye’s maritime agreement with Libya, Fidan said Ankara was holding talks with Egypt to address Cairo’s concerns over the deal

He also said the conditions were now in place to unite Libya’s rival eastern and western factions, expressing hope that Ankara would soon announce positive developments on the matter

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Türkiye on Saturday accused Greece of undermining the religious freedoms of the Turkish minority in Western Thrace by appointing state-selected muftis in Komotini and Xanthi, renewing a decades-long dispute over the community’s right to choose its religious leaders.

In a statement issued Oct. 24, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said the appointments disregarded rights and freedoms protected under the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne and other international agreements.

“The institution of the Mufti is an integral part of the religious, social, and cultural identity of the Turkish Minority in Western Thrace,” the ministry said.

It accused Athens of ignoring the community’s wishes by refusing to recognize its elected muftis and instead imposing religious officials selected through state procedures.

“By refusing to recognize the Muftis elected by the Turkish Minority in Western Thrace, an official minority in the country, Greece is ignoring the Minority’s will and religious freedom, thereby once again revealing its distorted perspective on fundamental human rights,” the ministry said.

Ankara called on Greek authorities to recognize the community-elected religious leaders and end the appointment of state-selected muftis.

The statement followed the formal appointment of two religious officials for five-year terms. Bilal Kara Halil, a former deputy mufti in Xanthi, was appointed mufti of Komotini, known as Gümülcine in Turkish, while Şükrü Şerif Damatoğlu, who previously served as a religious official on the island of Kos, was appointed mufti of Xanthi, known as İskeçe in Turkish.

The appointments have reinforced a system in which state-appointed muftis operate alongside religious leaders chosen by members of the minority community.

The community recognizes İbrahim Şerif as its elected mufti in Komotini and Mustafa Trampa as its elected mufti in Xanthi. Greek authorities do not officially recognize either leader as the mufti of their respective cities.

The disagreement has persisted for decades, with Türkiye and minority representatives arguing that the community should have the right to elect its religious leadership, while Greece maintains that mufti appointments must follow national law.

The dispute intensified in 1985 following the death of Hüseyin Mustafa Efendi, then mufti of Komotini, when Greek authorities began appointing successors. Legislative changes in 1991 removed earlier provisions concerning elections and consolidated the appointment-based system.

Further reforms, including Law 4964/2022, placed mufti offices more explicitly under state oversight, with appointment procedures involving committees that include minority members. Greece has also appointed a mufti for Didymoteicho under the framework.

Türkiye and minority representatives base their position on the Treaty of Lausanne, the 1913 Treaty of Athens and Greece’s Law No. 2345 of 1920, which they argue supports the community’s right to elect its muftis.

They maintain that muftis serve as more than religious officials, playing a central role in the community’s social and cultural life. From this perspective, state appointments undermine the minority’s religious autonomy and its right to determine its own leadership.

Greece rejects that interpretation. Athens describes the community as a Muslim religious minority rather than an ethnic Turkish minority, citing the terminology used in the Treaty of Lausanne. Greek authorities also argue that the treaty does not require muftis to be elected.

The Greek government maintains that muftis exercise judicial and administrative responsibilities in addition to their religious duties, making their selection subject to the country’s legal framework. It has repeatedly said that it protects religious freedom and guarantees equal citizenship while rejecting efforts to redefine the minority’s official status.

Western Thrace, which includes the Greek regions of Rhodope, Xanthi and Evros, is home to a Muslim minority whose population is commonly estimated at tens of thousands to as many as 100,000 to 150,000 people, particularly in Rhodope and Xanthi.

The community maintains mosques, religious foundations and educational institutions. The management of foundations and communal property has also been a longstanding source of disagreement, including disputes over state-appointed administrators.

Türkiye has repeatedly raised minority rights and religious autonomy under the Treaty of Lausanne and related agreements, including in previous statements concerning mufti appointments in Didymoteicho and other parts of the region.

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Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is scheduled to meet Yemen’s top diplomat, Afrah Abdulaziz Al-Zuba, in Istanbul on Saturday to discuss bilateral relations, efforts to end Yemen’s conflict and growing threats to international shipping routes.

The Oct. 24 meeting comes as renewed fighting in Yemen raises concerns over security in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategic maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. The talks are also expected to address regional instability and the need to restore safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

According to Turkish Foreign Ministry sources, Fidan will reaffirm Türkiye’s support for Yemen’s territorial integrity, national unity and internationally recognized government. He is also expected to stress the need for a lasting political settlement and condemn Houthi attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Particular attention is expected to focus on maritime security, with both the Bab el-Mandeb and Strait of Hormuz central to concerns over the safety and freedom of international navigation.

Al-Zuba’s visit marks her first bilateral foreign trip since becoming Yemen’s foreign minister in July. She also arrived in Istanbul carrying a written message from Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad Muhammad Al-Alimi for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Her appointment was part of a limited cabinet reshuffle in the internationally recognized government led by Prime Minister Shaya Mohsen Al-Zindani. She became the first woman to serve as Yemen’s foreign minister and one of the most senior female officials in the country’s government. She was sworn in before Al-Alimi in Riyadh on July 29.

Al-Zuba previously served as minister of planning and international cooperation, taking up the position in February 2026. She brings more than 25 years of experience in development, public administration, institutional governance and peacebuilding.

Originally from Al-Bayda in central Yemen, she trained as a pharmacist at Sana’a University before earning a master’s degree in community health and health economics in Malaysia and an MBA in Yemen. She also headed the Executive Bureau for the Acceleration of Donor Pledges Absorption and the Execution of Reform Policies, coordinating with international partners, including the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen.

Her experience also includes participation in Yemen’s National Dialogue Conference following the 2011 uprising, which sought to establish a framework for political reform and address longstanding divisions in the country.

Since her appointment, Al-Zuba has visited Gulf countries as part of her diplomatic engagements. Her trip to Türkiye comes as Yemeni officials seek stronger cooperation with Ankara on rebuilding state institutions, improving public services and coordinating diplomatic efforts in support of the internationally recognized government.

The discussions in Istanbul are expected to underscore Türkiye’s longstanding position in support of Yemen’s sovereignty and internationally recognized authorities, alongside its call for a negotiated settlement to the conflict that escalated into a full-scale war in 2014-2015.

The meeting comes amid renewed fighting along Yemen’s Red Sea coast. According to reports cited in the background to the talks, Houthi forces advanced in September, capturing the port of Mocha, also known as Mokha, and positions around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, including Mayyun Island, also called Perim Island.

The reported advances heightened concerns over the security of one of the world’s most strategically important shipping corridors. The Bab el-Mandeb serves as a gateway between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, linking maritime traffic to the Suez Canal route, a major passage for international trade and energy shipments. Commercial shipping through the strait had already declined sharply from pre-crisis levels.

In early October, Yemeni government forces, backed by the Saudi-led coalition, launched a counteroffensive known as Operation Dawn of Yemen. Government-aligned forces reported advances in the Dhubab district and movements toward Mocha and positions overlooking the strait, supported by Saudi airstrikes.

Fighting has also intensified around Taiz, where Houthi forces have sought to increase pressure on areas held by the government. Attacks on Saudi targets and threats against commercial shipping have added to regional tensions, while security concerns around the Strait of Hormuz have further complicated the maritime picture.

The Istanbul talks will bring these interconnected challenges to the forefront of Türkiye-Yemen relations. Ankara has consistently advocated dialogue as the route to a sustainable settlement while backing Yemen’s sovereignty and internationally recognized institutions.

Türkiye’s Hakan Fidan is set to meet Yemen’s first female foreign minister, Afrah Abdulaziz Al-Zuba, in Istanbul as renewed fighting, Houthi advances and threats to shipping in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait heighten regional tensions, putting Yemen’s political future and the security of vital global trade routes at the center of diplomatic talks.

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