Politics
Türkiye championed Palestinian cause at UN
The situation in Palestine amid Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza dominated Türkiye’s agenda at the United Nations General Assembly. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who assessed the event on Saturday, noted that they led and supported all meetings on Palestine in New York.
Ankara defended the Palestinian cause in the strongest possible terms, Fidan told reporters at Turkish House (Türkevi) in New York.
The Palestinian issue and the situation in Gaza were “the most important agenda item of this general assembly week,” he said.
Stressing that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was the intellectual initiator of the Gaza Strip meeting, which brought together the leaders of eight Arab League and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states, along with U.S. President Donald Trump, Fidan said: “In this meeting, as a group of countries with a Muslim population of nearly 800 million, we clearly conveyed to President Trump our expectations regarding Gaza.
“We stated that a cease-fire in Gaza must be achieved immediately and that it is essential to deliver humanitarian aid to the region.”
“We collectively emphasized that Israel’s annexation of the West Bank is completely unacceptable and that we oppose any attempt to force the people of Gaza to flee their homeland,” he said.
Expressing hope that a positive momentum would be generated on the issues they raised, the Turkish foreign minister said there are initial signs of it happening.
Fidan called the declaration by some Western countries of their recognition of the State of Palestine during and immediately before the General Assembly a “highly significant development.”
“This outcome is also a concrete outcome of our work as the OIC-Arab League Joint Contact Group. We will always continue to defend the just cause of the Palestinians on every platform,” he emphasized.
Stressing the importance of the Gaza meeting, Fidan highlighted: “Next week, the Israeli prime minister will also visit Washington. It is important for us that America plays a central role in all of this and wields its influence over Israel.
“To bring the U.S. to this point, the diplomatic procedure, strategy and relationship steps needed to be carefully calculated and implemented, one by one.”
Emphasizing that current priorities are achieving a cease-fire in Gaza, stopping the civilian massacre and ensuring the arrival of humanitarian aid as soon as possible,” the Turkish foreign minister said work is underway on a paper that prioritizes a cease-fire agreement and addresses other issues in parallel.
“We have made our contributions as relevant countries. Negotiations are ongoing.
“We will continue to do everything in our power, using all our creativity and strength, on this path,” he stated.
Noting that a “record number of countries” have now recognized the State of Palestine, Fidan underscored that Türkiye aims to stop the “historical oppression” against the Palestinian people.
When asked how broader recognition of the State of Palestine could help stop the genocide in Gaza, Fidan said lessons from past wars showed the focus should not only be on securing a cease-fire but also on dismantling the conditions that make wars and massacres possible.
Fidan said this meant creating a two-state solution where both Israelis and Palestinians could live in security, peace and stability.
While cease-fire negotiations are ongoing, Fidan said Türkiye and a group of countries are pushing forward the agenda for a two-state solution and the recognition of Palestine.
“We have reached a point where a record number of countries have recognized Palestine,” Fidan said. “And it is not just the number of countries that matters; their political weight is also important. Now we see European countries, Anglo-Saxon countries, traditionally strong allies of the U.S., France, the U.K., Australia, Canada, also recognizing Palestine.”
Fidan said this reflects both the effectiveness of international efforts and the political pressure generated by global public outrage after witnessing the massacres in Gaza.
“The recognition of the State of Palestine should never have required the martyrdom of 60,000 innocent people, the killing of so many, or the starvation of 2 million,” Fidan said.
He said Palestine is now more widely recognized, and the next step must be to build a “living, functioning state,” which first requires an end to the current war.
Fidan said this should then evolve into a situation where Palestinians can govern themselves with financial and administrative independence. He noted ongoing work toward this goal, including two to three parallel initiatives, particularly the reform of the Palestinian Authority, which involves some Western countries, as well as preparations for Gaza’s self-governance after a possible cease-fire.
“These are the steps we hope to implement in the best-case scenario as we move toward a two-state solution,” he said.
Fidan stressed that under President Erdoğan’s leadership, Türkiye has made “an incredible contribution” to resolving the issue and has done so genuinely, without seeking political credit.
“Our aim is to end this historic injustice and to prevent further suffering of our citizens’ conscience. We are the ones with the responsibility to act and to take measures on their behalf,” he said.
Fidan said Türkiye is working with other countries to develop a cease-fire framework acceptable to the U.S. and aimed at healing the wounds in Gaza.
“Negotiations are ongoing. Contributions are being made. At some point, both the Palestinian and Israeli sides must accept this. We will use our influence with the Palestinians, and the Americans will use theirs with Israel, so that together this mechanism can be implemented,” he said.
Gaza plan
When asked about Türkiye’s stance on a post-conflict reconstruction plan for Gaza, prepared by the Tony Blair Institute (TBI), founded by former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair, Fidan said his country has not yet received anything clear and concrete, such as a “Blair Plan.”
Saying that Türkiye has not been involved in such a plan, Fidan said Ankara is only involved in efforts on a cease-fire that Washington can also accept, and a framework plan for healing the wounds in Gaza, adding that negotiations on the issue are ongoing.
The Palestinian and Israeli sides must also accept this, Fidan stressed. “We will use our influence with the Palestinians. The Americans will use their influence with Israel to implement this through this mechanism.”
“Tony Blair may be given a role, especially in organizing international aid at some point; that’s a separate issue, but what we, as the Contact Group countries, are sensitively focusing on is that after a possible cease-fire agreement. Gaza will once again be administered by the Palestinians themselves,” he noted.
Türkiye-U.S. ties
Erdoğan’s visits to New York and Washington were highly productive in terms of Ankara’s contacts within the U.N. framework and relations with Washington, Fidan underlined.
Regarding the meeting between Erdoğan and Trump in Washington, Fidan said that they discussed regional and global issues, adding that Erdoğan raised the Palestinian issue and highlighted important issues for Türkiye.
The primary issue among the issues was the swift establishment of a cease-fire in Gaza, and Erdoğan also highlighted the risks posed by Israel’s expansionist policies in the region, Fidan stated.
On Syria, he added that “both countries agree that Syria’s territorial integrity and political unity must be preserved.”
The two leaders also discussed joint steps that could be taken to end the Russo-Ukrainian war and the increased coordination between Türkiye and the U.S. within NATO, the Turkish foreign minister highlighted.
He said Erdoğan had invited Trump to Türkiye for a visit, as part of a NATO summit to be held in Ankara next year, Fidan added.
Issues pertaining to Syria are important for regional security and Türkiye’s security, Fidan stated.
Millions of Syrians are still living outside Syria as “refugees,” and for that to end, Syria must achieve lasting stability and send strong signals, he noted.
Saying that there is a new perception of a threat in the region, particularly in Syria, that began with Israeli attacks, Fidan said Syria has its own unique problems and threats to its social integrity, noting that it suffers from infrastructure and economic difficulties inherited from the era of the Bashar Assad regime, as well as the devastation left by the civil war.
Türkiye, other regional countries, the EU and the U.S. quickly reached a consensus to support the new administration in Syria and heal Syria’s wounds, and unity of action had already begun, he stressed, noting that at this point, Israel’s attacks began to change the equation.
“How can this be resolved? Efforts to address this are ongoing. Our Syrian brothers and sisters are holding discussions on this matter, and we are providing support. We are having discussions and frequently raising this issue with the Americans.
“We are holding discussions with regional countries. This is a crucial issue. We are striving to resolve this through the most appropriate diplomatic means possible,” he said.
Framework issues related to the potential and existing threat posed by the PKK/YPG terrorist group, which uses the name SDF, are constantly on the agenda, Fidan noted, stating that the group is being continuously monitored bilaterally and trilaterally.
The negotiation processes between the Syrian government and the YPG are being closely monitored, he highlighted, noting that the U.S. has assessments and guidance regarding its evolving views and role on the matter.
Türkiye’s goal is to see the creation of an environment where its national security is not threatened, where no minority or majority group, including the Kurdish people in Syria, sees itself under threat, Fidan stated.
He said Ankara is “ready to provide and take whatever political framework, economic contribution, institutional capacity, military and security measures are necessary for this.”
“It is ready to do this not unilaterally, but together with its partners and stakeholders in the region,” added Fidan.
Damaged vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla are being repaired in Türkiye’s Antalya after an Israeli attack in international waters, with volunteers working to prepare the ships for another voyage toward Gaza.
Some of the vessels were left with damaged engines, broken masts and torn sails after the attack. They were later brought to Antalya, where local and international volunteers are carrying out repairs at a shipyard.
Two vessels have already been repaired and sent to Italy as part of preparations for another Gaza-bound mission, said Sümeyra Akdeniz Ordu, a board member of the Global Sumud Flotilla.
“We are trying to recover the ships drifting at sea one by one. We are carrying out a rescue mission,” Ordu told Anadolu Agency (AA). “We are repairing these ships so they can sail to Gaza again.”
Fourteen flotilla vessels are currently in Antalya, Ordu said, adding that volunteers from different countries were helping coordinate and repair the ships.
She said each vessel had a special significance for the activists and that they were treating the ships “like their own children” as they worked to restore them.
The damage was extensive, Ordu said, describing broken masts, damaged engines and cut hoses. She also said the sails had been torn with knives.
“The mast was broken, surface cleaner and coffee had been poured into the engines, and the hoses on each ship had been cut one by one,” she said. “They caused this damage by ramming them with larger ships.”
The repairs have been difficult because of the extent of the damage, but volunteers have continued working, Ordu said.
Türkiye has provided a safe port for the repair effort, she added.
Ordu said the activists remained determined to continue their efforts despite the damage to the vessels.
“If the enemy does not give up, we cannot give up,” she said. “We are trying to be a voice here for our Palestinian friends.”
She said the damage to the vessels showed what she described as the violence and hostility directed at the flotilla.
“We, too, insist on continuing every form of resistance,” Ordu said.
Türkiye condemned a drone attack on a power distribution station in the Saudi city of Medina that supplies electricity to the Prophet’s Mosque, reiterating its support for Saudi Arabia amid renewed regional tensions.
Ömer Çelik, spokesperson for Türkiye’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), condemned the attack on Friday, saying targeting infrastructure serving the Prophet’s Mosque was unacceptable.
“Attacks targeting our sacred values are illegitimate acts directed against all Muslims,” Çelik said in a social media post, adding that Türkiye strongly supported Saudi Arabia’s security and stability.
The targeted facility supplies electricity to the Prophet’s Mosque, Islam’s second-holiest site. The attack put one transformer out of service but did not affect the electricity network.
Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry also strongly condemned the attack, saying strikes targeting civilian infrastructure and threatening Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and security should “cease immediately and unconditionally.”
The ministry reiterated Türkiye’s support for Saudi Arabia and called on parties to avoid steps that could further escalate tensions in the region.
“We reaffirm our strong support for Saudi Arabia and emphasize the need to avoid any steps that would further escalate tensions in the region,” the statement said.
Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran on Friday separately condemned the strike and said Türkiye would continue to stand by Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi-led coalition said an investigation and examination of drone wreckage indicated Houthi involvement in the Sept. 29 attack.
Coalition spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki Al Maliki said the targeted facility supplies electricity to the Prophet’s Mosque, one of Islam’s holiest sites.
Saudi Arabia said two weeks ago it had intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered restricted airspace over the Muslim holy city. The coalition described that incident as the second Houthi attempt to target Mecca since 2017.
Earlier on Thursday, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and several Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain, also condemned the attack on Medina.
The OIC described the targeting of vital infrastructure and facilities as “a dangerous escalation and a blatant violation of the sanctity of holy sites,” as well as international and humanitarian laws and norms.
Bashiqa-Zilkan, a key Turkish base in Iraq, will soon be handed over to Iraqi authorities while Turkish troops are expected to withdraw from the country. The development, which comes amid the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the country, which remained there as part of an anti-Daesh coalition, signals the start of a new era for Iraq and Türkiye. The Ministry of National Defense said in a statement on Thursday that the handover of the base did not mean an end to cooperation with Iraq and, on the contrary, Türkiye would continue supporting Iraq’s security and stability.
Türkiye and Iraq agreed earlier this month to deepen security cooperation, restore full Iraqi state authority in Sinjar and begin the gradual handover of the Bashiqa-Zilkan military base to Baghdad under an agreed timetable.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi announced the steps in a joint statement following talks in New York on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
The ministry said Türkiye welcomed steps to ensure state authority in Sinjar. The base was set up in 2015 to help Iraq fight against Daesh and later maintained its presence when the terrorist group PKK sought to replace Daesh following the liberation of Sinjar.
“These steps will contribute to normalization of the region, establishing an environment of security and stability and a terror-free region,” the ministry said, using an expression referring to Ankara’s “terror-free Türkiye” initiative, which aims to disarm the PKK.
The statement also said it was decided to gradually hand over the compound to the central government in Baghdad, “based on improvement of security in Sinjar.”
“Our country, as it did in the past, stands with our neighbor Iraq in terms of maintaining an environment of security and stability. Throughout future contacts, we are planning to take steps that will further advance military and security cooperation. We will continue supporting Iraq’s armed forces in increasing military capacity, sharing know-how in counterterrorism and in the fields of military training and defense industry cooperation, based on bilateral agreements,” the ministry stated.
Ayhan Sarı, an assistant professor at the Turkish-German University and a security and foreign policy expert at the Turkish Research Foundation (TAV), noted that Türkiye’s withdrawal was linked to ending the PKK’s presence in Sinjar and the re-establishment of Baghdad’s authority there.
Sarı told Daily Sabah that Türkiye has been in Iraq as an exercise of its right to self-defense under international law, particularly Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which recognizes the right to individual and collective self-defense against armed attacks. “Türkiye’s presence in Iraq has been due to the PKK threat in the north. (The dissolution) of the PKK will remove the need to remain in Iraq,” Sarı said.
He noted that the PKK and other terrorist groups had, for years, filled the power vacuum that emerged in Iraq’s northern region following the beginning of the Iraq War.
“Iraq’s central government claims it can find a solution to this vacuum through recent steps and establish full authority within its borders after the U.S. withdrawal,” Sarı said.
A U.S.-led coalition deployed in Iraq more than a decade ago against Daesh formally concluded its mission on Wednesday. Daesh was largely expelled from Iraq and Syria, also thanks to Türkiye’s cross-border operations in Assad-era Syria, but U.S. forces remained. Washington and Baghdad reached an agreement two years ago to wind down the mission.
Sarı said it was only natural that Türkiye was supportive of Iraq’s steps to ensure security on its own, since Ankara was committed to developing good relations with its neighbors and centered its foreign policy on peace and stability.
“As it did in Syria, Türkiye sides with central authority, stability and security in Iraq. Türkiye will support this move and will do whatever it can to ensure that this mission succeeds in maintaining stability and security, based on its neighborly relations,” he said.
Sarı added that Iraq’s efforts were compatible with Türkiye’s foreign policy and plans. “Iraq’s success will also mean the complete expulsion of the PKK from that country. This expulsion, removal of this malignant tumor between Türkiye and Iraq, will certainly add momentum to Turkish-Iraqi relations,” he also stated.
Speaking at the inauguration of the new legislative year at the Turkish Parliament on Thursday, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hailed a law passed by Parliament on terror-free Türkiye, which involves the disarmament of the terrorist group PKK.
“Consensus on a terror-free Türkiye has upset the country’s foes. (Terror-free Türkiye) is already having a deterrent effect on Türkiye’s foes and is empowering the country,” Erdoğan said.
The president also urged other political parties to strengthen the “home front” amid regional tensions and reach a “grand Türkiye consensus.”
The Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration was approved by Parliament in August following months of political consultations over the government’s terror-free Türkiye initiative. The 12-article legislation received broad parliamentary backing, with 468 lawmakers voting in favor, 88 against and six abstaining. It mainly involves deferral of sentences and prosecution, as part of the initiative that paved the way for the dissolution of the PKK.
For decades, the PKK remained the main security threat for Türkiye, and its violent campaign is blamed for the deaths of thousands of people and immense economic losses, especially in southeastern Türkiye. Apart from small nationalist parties, almost all political parties openly supported the initiative, something rare in polarized Turkish politics.
“The era of opposition solely based on opposing what the government did is over. It is a grave mistake to reduce politics to antagonizing the rivals, to a war of attrition, instead of making it a race in offering the best public services. Regional and global developments require us to pursue a new style of politics,” Erdoğan told Parliament amid constant applause from lawmakers from his Justice and Development Party (AK Party). The main opposition New Party (YP) left Parliament’s general assembly hall as Erdoğan took the floor.
“We have two options now: We will either continue with the old way of politics focusing on polarization, or we will build new politics based on finding common ground, finding consensus amid competition,” he said.
“If we are meant to make Türkiye great and strong again, if we are meant to utilize historic opportunities, we have to adapt to this paradigm shift altogether and without losing more time,” he said.
The president said they did not expect all political parties to fully align or have the same opinion.
“Different views are certainly the wealth of Türkiye, Turkish democracy. But all political parties should prioritize Türkiye. Every party should draw power from its own dynamics, its grassroots, to carry out ‘Türkiye-oriented politics,'” Erdoğan said.
“Reconciliation and tolerance should replace conflict and polarization. We have to find common ground on matters essential for every member of our nation. This is what we call the ‘grand Türkiye consensus,'” Erdoğan added.
New constitution
The president also focused on drafting a new constitution. “The goal of a new and civilian constitution is a struggle for Turkish democracy to prove its maturity. Our esteemed Parliament is competent and authorized to draft a constitution under all circumstances and in every period. A new constitution that will broaden Türkiye’s horizons will be the product not of a politics of polarization, but of a new politics based on competition within consensus. Our nation’s longing for a new constitution must not be held hostage by manufactured fears. Our position regarding the first four articles of the Constitution currently in force is clear. Rolling up our sleeves for a new and civilian constitution worthy of the ‘Century of Türkiye’ is a genuine test of sincerity for everyone. I hope the current legislative year will be a year of constitutional reform that expands Türkiye’s opportunities and potential,” he said.
Since the founding of the Republic of Türkiye, constitutional design has served as the backbone of the country’s legal system. The current Constitution, adopted in 1982, has been repeatedly amended over the decades, most notably in 2017, when a national referendum paved the way for the country’s transition from a parliamentary model to an executive presidential system.
Despite numerous amendments over the decades, replacing the 1982 Constitution with a new, civilian-drafted charter remains a prominent issue in Türkiye’s political debate.
Erdoğan and Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş have repeatedly advocated for a new civilian constitution, arguing that the existing charter retains the legacy of military rule under which it was drafted despite extensive subsequent amendments.
Türkiye condemned Thursday a drone attack by Houthis on a power station in the Muslim holy city of Medina, reaffirming its support for Saudi Arabia.
The targeted facility supplies electricity to the Prophet’s Mosque, Islam’s second-holiest site. The attack put one transformer out of service but did not affect the electricity network.
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said on Thursday that an investigation and examination of drone wreckage confirmed Houthi involvement in planning and carrying out Tuesday’s attack.
“We strongly condemn the Houthis’ attack on civilian infrastructure serving the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“These provocative attacks, which threaten Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and security and target the sacred values of the Islamic world, must cease immediately and unconditionally,” it said.
Saudi Arabia said two weeks ago it had intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered restricted airspace over the Muslim holy city. The coalition described that incident as the second Houthi attempt to target Mecca since 2017.
The Foreign Ministry emphasized the need to avoid any steps that would further escalate tensions.
“We reaffirm our strong support for Saudi Arabia and emphasize the need to avoid any steps that would further escalate tensions in the region,” the statement said.
Earlier Thursday, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and several Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain, also condemned the attack on Medina.
The OIC described the targeting of vital infrastructure and facilities as “a dangerous escalation and a blatant violation of the sanctity of holy sites,” as well as international and humanitarian laws and norms.
The organization affirmed its full solidarity with Saudi Arabia in measures taken to protect its territory, security and stability, defend Islamic holy sites and safeguard citizens and residents.
The UAE Foreign Ministry said the drone attack constituted “a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of Saudi Arabia and a threat to its security and stability.”
The Saudi-led coalition said the Medina attack was part of what it described as repeated Houthi attempts to target the Two Holy Mosques and “provoke” Muslims worldwide. It said it would continue taking measures to protect the holy sites and pilgrims.
Houthis denied the accusation.
The latest escalation is the most serious fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-aligned Houthis since a U.N.-brokered truce largely halted cross-border attacks in 2022. Hostilities resumed this year after the Houthis declared a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia in July and began attacking Saudi territory and shipping, while Houthi forces also made major territorial gains along Yemen’s Red Sea coast.
Saudi Arabia has responded with airstrikes in Yemen and backed government forces fighting to push back the Houthis.
Turkish authorities detained Eyüpsultan Mayor Mithat Bülent Özmen and 27 other suspects earlier Friday as part of a corruption investigation involving the Istanbul district municipality, prosecutors said.
The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said detention orders were issued for 28 suspects over allegations including membership in a criminal organization, receiving and giving bribes and bid rigging.
All 28 suspects were detained in simultaneous operations carried out by financial crimes police, according to the prosecutor’s office. Authorities also conducted searches and seizures at addresses linked to the suspects and searched the Republican People’s Party (CHP)-run Eyüpsultan Municipality building.
Prosecutors said the investigation was being conducted in coordination with the Ankara Police Department’s Financial Crimes Investigation Branch.
“The investigation continues in a comprehensive and meticulous manner,” the prosecutor’s office said.
Özmen, who serves as mayor of Istanbul’s Eyüpsultan district, was among those taken into custody.
The detentions are part of an ongoing investigation, and no court has ruled on the allegations against the suspects.
-
Politics2 days agoTurkish defense chief attends major joint military drills in Azerbaijan
-
Sports2 days agoTürkiye aim to stop rot against Belgium in Nations League
-
Politics3 days ago1 in 10 CHP-elected mayors switch to Türkiye’s ruling AK Party
-
Politics2 days agoTürkiye urges end to US-Israel-Iran war, return to talks
-
Politics3 days agoGreece escalates Aegean tensions with military drill
-
Economy2 days agoEurozone, Asian factories show resilience despite energy challenges
-
Sports2 days agoRonaldo walks away as Jesus rules out start against Denmark
-
Lifestyle2 days ago190-year-old Greek church set to join Cappadocia tourism route