Politics
Cyprus split, Turks united on anniversary of peace operation
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Sunday marked the anniversary of the July 20, 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation by Türkiye, a turning point in the history of the Mediterranean island, which is divided between Greek and Turkish Cypriots.
The operation was a display of Türkiye’s unwavering support for the community whose future state is fully recognized only by Ankara. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was scheduled to fly to the TRNC to attend ceremonies marking the anniversary.
The operation helped Turkish Cypriots stave off a grim future and paved the way for the establishment of their state in its current form. Fifty-one years on, the operation is an occasion celebrated through military parades and ceremonies and dedicated to those who died in atrocities committed by Greek Cypriot gangs.
Along with attending anniversary ceremonies, Erdoğan is expected to showcase Türkiye’s concrete steps to support the TRNC, including a groundbreaking ceremony for a new hospital supported by the Turkish Ministry of Health and the inauguration of new roads in the city.
The anniversary comes a few days after TRNC President Ersin Tatar and Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides met in New York at U.N. headquarters for informal talks on the future of the divided island. They were accompanied by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and representatives of the guarantor powers, Türkiye, Greece and the United Kingdom. Talks, held for the second time this year, did not yield any concrete results, but the two sides agreed on confidence-building measures.
Greek Cypriots advocate for the reunification of the island with a bi-communal administrative system, while the TRNC insists on a two-state solution where it will be recognized as a sovereign state.
In the second half of the 20th century, Cyprus was the scene of Greek efforts to erase Turkish Cypriot existence on the island. Fearing a Greek Cypriot plot to unite with Greece, which would ultimately put Turkish Cypriots under the control of Greek Cypriot dominance, Türkiye launched the Cyprus Peace Operation in the summer of 1974.
Cyprus was once an Ottoman island before it was handed over to a British mandate in 1923. Greek Cypriots, encouraged by the Greek uprising against Ottoman rule in 1821, have long aspired for reunification with Greece. In 1955, they took the first steps to achieve this by the establishment of the terrorist group EOKA. EOKA’s campaign of violence targeted Turkish Cypriots, as well as Greek Cypriots opposing their goal of reunification. Turkish Cypriots took up arms in 1958, establishing a resistance organization known as the Turkish Resistance Organization (TMT). Rising tensions on the island appeared to die down in 1960 with the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus. Yet, three years later, Greek Cypriots moved to amend the constitution to deprive Turkish Cypriots of their rights. Armed attacks against the Turkish Cypriot community exacerbated tensions again, effectively putting an end to the bi-national republic. Assaults on Turkish Cypriots in 1963 evolved into an all-out attack by Greek Cypriot forces on Erenköy, a line of resistance by Turkish Cypriots, in 1964. The civilian population was bombed by Greek warplanes, prompting Türkiye to launch a limited air offensive to stave off Greek attacks.
Ten years later, Türkiye took the initiative for a lasting solution to attacks targeting Turkish Cypriots and launched the Cyprus Peace Operation. The operation led to a cease-fire two days later, but ongoing hostilities prompted Türkiye to launch the second stage of the operation on Aug. 14, 1974. The operations cost the lives of 498 Turkish soldiers and 786 Turkish Cypriot “mücahits,” members of paramilitary groups resisting Greek Cypriot attacks. The operation ensured a cessation of attacks by Greek Cypriots, and one year later, Turkish Cypriots declared the Turkish Federated State of Cyprus, under the leadership of Rauf Denktaş, a co-founder of TMT. The state renamed the TRNC in 1983.
The TRNC, however, faced major setbacks as it was not recognized globally and faced economic and political embargoes. It also sought to reconcile with Greek Cypriots, and the two sides agreed upon a series of talks in the early 2000s. Yet, after the Greek Cypriot administration was admitted to the European Union in 2004, efforts collapsed. The last round of concrete talks to end the division failed in 2017.
Under the leadership of President Erdoğan, Türkiye continues to implement policies that provide full support to Turkish Cypriots, although at times it has fallen out with Turkish Cypriot administrations, which have warmed up to the idea of a bi-communal federation. Under Tatar, who came to power in 2020, the TRNC realigned with Ankara and adopted a no-concession policy in talks over the island’s status.
The TRNC will continue to build its future, Tatar said on Friday after the informal talks in New York, underlining that “there are two states” on the Eastern Mediterranean island.
“The existence of these two states has been a reality for 62 years. A solution based on the sovereignty of both peoples in Cyprus is possible,” Tatar told reporters. Tatar said progress could be achieved in Cyprus “through cooperation between the two separate states. We are not avoiding dialogue, but we insist on sovereign equality.”
He noted that the informal meeting did not constitute official negotiations, nor did it indicate a move in that direction, adding that their presence in New York was for cooperation, rather than formal talks. Tatar criticized the EU for appointing a special envoy on Cyprus without consulting the Turkish Cypriot side. He said the bloc holds a biased stance and reaffirmed that Turkish Cypriots would only accept EU involvement if their sovereignty is recognized. “Otherwise, such representation is unacceptable,” he said.
He added that they had met their obligations regarding matters related to the cooperation agreed upon in Geneva (during a meeting last March) and New York with the Greek Cypriot administration, but said no consensus was reached on opening new border crossings due to the Greek Cypriot side’s stance.
Tatar described the Greek Cypriot side’s legal actions against individuals investing in properties in the TRNC as a violation of international law and human rights, calling it an attack that is incompatible with goodwill. He also emphasized that all negotiation processes were being conducted in consultation with Türkiye. Since last year, the Greek Cypriot administration has been pursuing legal action and arrests targeting individuals who purchased property in the TRNC. TRNC officials argue that the true aim behind these actions is to undermine the construction sector and the broader economy. On Sunday, four individuals identified as citizens of the Greek Cypriot administration were detained by police while conducting land surveys and assessments in the TRNC, according to security sources. The suspects were caught by security forces near the town of Iskele while surveying land, police sources said. The suspects were allegedly collecting documents and conducting assessments as part of the Greek Cypriot administration’s ongoing efforts to identify and prosecute those acquiring property in the TRNC. The four detainees are expected to appear in court, while authorities investigate their possible ties to the Greek Cypriot administration’s intelligence agency and determine who may have directed their actions.
Taking root
Today, the peace operation is a source of pride for Turkish Cypriots, while Greek Cypriots mark the same day as a day of mourning for those killed in clashes with Turkish and Turkish Cypriot forces. Greek Cypriot President Christoulides said in a ceremony on Sunday that they would “never yield an inch of land,” while he described the ceremonies in the TRNC as “shameful.”
TRNC Parliament Speaker Ziya Öztürkler said that Greek Cypriots never gave up the idea of annexation with Greece and through the Peace Operation, Turkish Cypriots started taking root in the island. The day is officially known as July 20 Peace and Freedom Day in the TRNC. Öztürkler told Anadolu Agency (AA) on Sunday that the TRNC has made significant progress since the operation, particularly in establishing institutions for infrastructure, education and health care, as well as in “standing for our lands.”
“The flags of the TRNC and the mainland Republic of Türkiye will fly together forever here,” Öztürkler said.
The speaker noted that, thanks to the efforts of Erdoğan, Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz and Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş, the TRNC had raised its profile internationally and particularly enhanced relations with the Turkic states.
“The peace operation means independence and freedom for Turkish Cypriots. This is the anniversary of a day where Turkish Cypriots built a freedom epic together with their homeland, Türkiye,” he said. Öztürkler said they fondly remembered the Turkish politicians behind the operation, including then-Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit and Deputy Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan.
Before his flight to the TRNC, President Erdoğan issued a message on his social media account to celebrate the anniversary and said he wholeheartedly congratulated the Turkish Cypriot people.
“On the 51st anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation, I remember with respect our martyrs who gave their lives for the Turkish Cypriot people’s struggle for existence, and I offer my gratitude to our heroic veterans,” Erdoğan said.
One of those veterans is a 75-year-old Cuma Erdem. Erdem was a conscript in the southern Turkish province of Kahramanmaraş when he was deployed to Cyprus for both stages of the operation. He and others boarded a passenger ship to reach the island in the 1974 summer. The ship was among 33 others carrying Turkish troops and came under Greek Cypriot fire when they approached the coast. Erdem and fellow troops crossed the Beşparmak mountains to reach Lefkoşa, with sporadic clashes with Greek Cypriot forces. Along the way, he witnessed fellow troops mowed down by gunfire, and his unit persisted in its march. “On the other side, Greek Cypriot troops started running when we advanced further,” he told AA on Sunday. “We came across Greek Cypriot soldiers tied to their machine guns by their commanders so that they would not flee,” he recounted.
In the second operation, Erdem says he witnessed the aftermath of atrocities committed by Greek Cypriots. He recalls raids by Greek Cypriots on Turkish Cypriot villages, Muratağa, Sandallar and Atlılar. “We heard that they were indiscriminately killing people in an execution style. In one village, we discovered a fresh trail of blood and followed it. We found half-buried bodies of martyrs there. I still remember those moments,” Erdem said.
Cevdet Kürtdur was deployed in a tank unit during the operation. He survived attacks by Greek Cypriots but still bears their scars, including a partial hearing loss. Kürtdur, who was injured when gunfire hit his tank, says he was “honored” to be a veteran. “If they call me again (for deployment), I would go,” he proudly says.
Hasan Aslan, a Turkish army veteran, experiences a mix of joy and grief while remembering the peace operation. Seventy-one-year-old Aslan was among 128 soldiers taking on a well-armed Greek Cypriot regiment. “When the dawn broke on July 20, Turkish reconnaissance planes hovered above us, and then came a barrage of bullets. At one point, we ran out of ammo, and then, paratroopers came to our aid,” Aslan told AA.
One of those paratroopers who landed in the spot he was deployed turned out to be a compatriot. “Bullets were grazing us, but I remember hugging him when I found out that he was from a village neighboring mine in Türkiye. I asked him about the situation in Türkiye, and he told me that people were mobilized and donating to the Turkish army.”
“I am happy to make a small contribution to Cyprus. We showed the world that Turkish Cypriots had the right to exist, and eventually, they managed to establish the TRNC,” he said.
Türkiye’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), founded under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Aug. 14, 2001, marked its 25th anniversary Friday, completing a quarter-century in which it has won every general election it has contested and reshaped the country’s political landscape.
Established as Türkiye’s 39th political party by a movement led by Erdoğan, then a former Istanbul mayor, the AK Party entered national politics with a pledge for sweeping political change.
“From now on, nothing in Türkiye will be the same,” Erdoğan said at the party’s launch. Two days later, he was unanimously elected its chair.
Just 15 months after its establishment, the AK Party won the Nov. 3, 2002, general election with 34.28% of the vote. Erdoğan was barred from running because of a political ban, and Abdullah Gül formed the 58th government.
Erdoğan enters Parliament
After legal changes lifted his political ban, Erdoğan won a parliamentary seat in a rerun election in the southeastern province of Siirt on March 9, 2003.
Following Gül’s resignation as prime minister, Erdoğan formed Türkiye’s 59th government on March 15, beginning more than a decade as premier.
The AK Party consolidated its position in subsequent elections, receiving 41.7% in the 2004 local elections and 46.58% in the 2007 general election.
The party faced one of its most serious legal challenges in 2008 when Türkiye’s chief prosecutor filed a case seeking its closure and political bans for 71 figures, including Erdoğan and Gül.
Six Constitutional Court judges voted to close the party and five opposed the move, falling short of the qualified majority required for a ban.
Referendums, election victories
A constitutional referendum in September 2010 became another milestone for the party, with 57.88% voting in favor of a package of constitutional amendments.
The AK Party subsequently received 49.83% of the vote in the 2011 general election, one of its highest nationwide vote shares.
In 2014, Erdoğan shifted from the prime minister’s office to the presidency. He won 51.79% of the vote on Aug. 10, becoming Türkiye’s first president elected directly by popular vote.
Ahmet Davutoğlu succeeded Erdoğan as AK Party chair. After the June 2015 election produced no single-party government, the AK Party regained its parliamentary majority in the Nov. 1 snap election.
Binali Yıldırım became party chair and prime minister in May 2016.
Presidential system changes
Türkiye’s political trajectory changed sharply with the July 15, 2016, coup attempt by the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ).
Erdoğan called on citizens to take to the streets and public squares, while resistance to the coup attempt helped foster closer political cooperation between the AK Party and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), laying the groundwork for the People’s Alliance.
A constitutional referendum on April 16, 2017, approved a shift to an executive presidential system with 51.41% support.
The changes also allowed the president to retain party membership. Erdoğan rejoined the AK Party after 979 days and was reelected its chair at an extraordinary congress in May 2017.
The AK Party and MHP contested the June 24, 2018, elections under the People’s Alliance, as Türkiye held presidential and parliamentary elections simultaneously for the first time.
Erdoğan won the presidency with 52.59%, becoming the first president under the new system, while the AK Party received 42.56% in the parliamentary vote.
The alliance continued into the 2019 local elections, in which the AK Party received 44.33% nationwide.
The COVID-19 pandemic later disrupted the party’s congress process, but its seventh ordinary congress was eventually held in March 2021, with Erdoğan again elected chair.
Erdoğan wins new term in 2023
Türkiye returned to the polls in May 2023 for presidential and parliamentary elections.
Erdoğan received 49.52% in the first presidential round, forcing a runoff. The AK Party received 35.62% of the parliamentary vote and secured 268 seats.
Erdoğan defeated his challenger in the May 28 runoff with 52.18%, securing another presidential term.
The victory extended the AK Party’s record of finishing first in every general election it had contested since its establishment and maintained its position as the longest-governing party since Türkiye entered its multiparty era in 1946.
The March 31, 2024, local elections represented a setback for the AK Party, which received 35.49% of the vote and won 24 provincial and 357 district municipalities.
Erdoğan acknowledged the message delivered by voters and pledged to evaluate the results, after which the party began replacing provincial and district officials.
That renewal accelerated at the AK Party’s eighth ordinary congress on Feb. 23, 2025. Thirty-nine new members joined its Central Decision and Management Board, renewing 52% of the body.
Further organizational changes followed, including replacements of provincial chairs in 15 provinces.
‘Terror-free Türkiye’ initiative
One of the latest chapters in the AK Party’s quarter-century in politics has been the “Terror-Free Türkiye” initiative, which followed a call by MHP Chair Devlet Bahçeli in October 2024 and was subsequently backed by Erdoğan.
A parliamentary National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission began work in August 2025 to address terrorism, social integration, national unity, democracy and the rule of law.
The commission adopted its report in February 2026.
A bill setting out the legal framework for the process was submitted to Parliament on Aug. 5, 2026. The legislation links its implementation to an official determination that the PKK terrorist group and affiliated structures have ended their operational existence and surrendered weapons under their control.
Parliament approved the legislation on Aug. 10 with 467 votes in favor, 87 against and seven abstentions.
Turkish Cypriot leaders on Friday commemorated the victims of the 1974 killings in the villages of Muratağa, Sandallar and Atlılar, marking the 52nd anniversary of one of the deadliest episodes of intercommunal violence on the divided island.
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Tufan Erhürman and Prime Minister Ünal Üstel paid tribute to Turkish Cypriots killed on Aug. 14, 1974, according to the Turkish News Agency Cyprus (TAK).
Commemoration ceremonies were held at cemeteries in Muratağa, Sandallar and Atlılar, where officials laid wreaths, observed moments of silence and attended prayers for the victims.
Speaking at the Muratağa-Sandallar cemetery, Erhürman said the victims represented the suffering endured by the Turkish Cypriot community during the conflict.
“Each of our martyrs lying here is the most concrete indication of the suffering experienced and the heavy price paid by the Turkish Cypriot people,” Erhürman said.
He criticized what he described as international silence over the killings, saying the lack of acknowledgment raised questions about the international community’s approach to the events.
Üstel, in a separate message marking Aug. 14, described the date as one associated with both resistance and deep suffering in Turkish Cypriot history.
He said Turkish Cypriots had refused to abandon their homeland, freedom or future despite years of violence and pressure, adding that they continued to show the same determination in the face of what he called “unjust isolation and embargoes.”
On Aug. 14, 1974, armed Greek Cypriot groups, including members of the ultranationalist EOKA terrorist group, attacked the three Turkish Cypriot villages.
A total of 126 Turkish Cypriots, many of them women and children, were killed. The youngest victim was 16-day-old Selden Ali Faik, while the oldest was 95-year-old Hüseyin Osman.
A mass grave in Atlılar was discovered on Aug. 20, 1974, after the second phase of Türkiye’s operation on Cyprus began.
The victims in Muratağa and Sandallar were discovered in early September after a shepherd noticed a hand protruding from the ground.
The mass graves were later opened in the presence of United Nations observers, and the remains of the victims were identified before being reburied at cemeteries.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met Thursday with Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy and Egyptian General Intelligence Service chief Maj. Gen. Hassan Rashad in the coastal city of el-Alamein, the Foreign Ministry said.
Fidan began a two-day visit to Egypt on Thursday.
During the visit, Fidan is scheduled to be received by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and meet senior Egyptian officials, according to Turkish Foreign Ministry sources.
He will discuss bilateral relations, review the current status of agreements under negotiation and encourage mutual investment in line with a common goal of increasing bilateral trade volume to $15 billion, diplomatic sources said.
The Turkish foreign minister will also discuss cooperation in hydrocarbons, electricity grid integration, energy infrastructure and mining, according to the sources.
Fidan will assess steps that can be taken to advance existing cooperation in the military and defense industries and emphasize the importance of addressing regional issues through dialogue and diplomacy on the basis of regional ownership and shared responsibility, the sources said.
He will also underline Türkiye’s determination to continue joint efforts bilaterally and through multilateral platforms such as the R4 initiative, which brings together the foreign ministers of Türkiye, Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
The visit will include the second meeting of the Türkiye-Egypt Joint Planning Group, co-chaired by Fidan and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, according to the sources.
The meeting will review the outcomes of the second meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, held in Cairo in February, and prepare for a third meeting planned in Türkiye in 2028.
Fidan will express support for diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the sources said.
He will also stress the importance of immediately halting ongoing attacks in Gaza, fully implementing the ceasefire and ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid.
The minister is expected to exchange views on implementing the second phase of the Gaza Peace Plan and Israel’s attacks on Palestine, Lebanon and Syria, according to the sources.
Fidan will underline the need to continue joint efforts to ensure lasting stability and security in Libya based on the country’s territorial integrity and political unity.
He will also reaffirm Türkiye’s support for Sudan’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, the sources said.
Fidan will share assessments on the roles and contributions Türkiye and Egypt can make toward establishing lasting peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan received lawmakers Pervin Buldan and Mithat Sancar, members of the PKK-linked Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party’s (DEM Party) Imralı delegation, and held a meeting with the families of fallen soldiers and veterans at the Presidential Complex in Ankara on Thursday.
The closed-door meeting lasted about one hour and 40 minutes and was also attended by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) acting Chair Efkan Ala and National Intelligence Organization (MIT) chief Ibrahim Kalın.
No statement was immediately issued following the meeting.
Buldan and Sancar have served as intermediaries in contacts with jailed PKK terrorist ringleader Abdullah Öcalan on Imralı Island as part of Türkiye’s terror-free initiative.
Later Thursday, Erdoğan received families of fallen soldiers and veterans at the Presidential Complex.
Family and Social Services Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş attended the meeting and said Türkiye would continue to honor the memory of its fallen soldiers, recognize the sacrifices of its veterans and stand by their families.
In a statement on social media, Erdoğan later said that he had met with the families of fallen soldiers and veterans at the Presidential Complex.
“The homeland where we live freely, in peace and security, is entrusted to us by our fallen soldiers and veterans. The families of those who sacrificed their lives and shed their blood to protect the unity and integrity of this country are also entrusted to us,” Erdoğan said.
He said the state had mobilized all available resources to support veterans and the families of fallen soldiers and would continue to do so.
Referring to Türkiye’s “terror-free Türkiye” initiative, Erdoğan said Parliament had taken an important step this week as part of efforts to eliminate terrorism from the country.
“Türkiye has reached this stage, above all, thanks to the heroic struggle of our nation’s sons and daughters, the resilience of your families and the achievements our state has made, particularly in the defense industry in recent years,” he said.
“God willing, by acting with patience, common sense and composure, we will rid Türkiye of this scourge once and for all,” Erdoğan added.
The talks come after Parliament approved the Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration, commonly referred to as the “framework law,” with broad parliamentary support.
Parliament on Monday passed a landmark 12-article law supporting the country’s “Terror-Free Türkiye” initiative, following months of political efforts led by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli.
The Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration was approved with 468 votes in favor and 88 against, with six abstentions.
The legislation forms a key part of the legal framework surrounding the ongoing “terror-free Türkiye” initiative, which seeks to bring an end to decades of terrorism and strengthen social integration.
Türkiye and Egypt will continue to deepen bilateral ties based on mutual trust and shared interests as the two regional powers seek to contribute to peace and stability, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Friday following a visit to Egypt.
Fidan said in a statement shared on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal, that the visit provided an important opportunity to discuss what he described as the “excellent level” of bilateral cooperation between Ankara and Cairo, as well as regional developments.
“Strengthening cooperation between our countries serves not only the common interests of our peoples but also the establishment of peace, stability and prosperity in our region.”
The minister noted that Türkiye and Egypt were two major states acting with an awareness of the responsibilities placed on them by their history and geography.
During the visit, Fidan and his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, co-chaired the second meeting of the Türkiye-Egypt Joint Planning Group.
Fidan also held talks with Egyptian General Intelligence Service chief Hassan Rashad and Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy.
The two sides signed agreements aimed at increasing bilateral trade, diversifying economic relations and strengthening connectivity between the countries, he said.
It was also added that Ankara and Cairo would continue working “shoulder to shoulder” in line with the vision of their presidents to further strengthen bilateral relations.
Egypt is one of Türkiye’s leading trade and export partners in Africa. Bilateral trade reached about $8 billion in 2025, with the two countries aiming to increase the figure to $15 billion, a target set by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and el-Sissi.
Turkish investments in Egypt have exceeded $4 billion, underscoring the growing economic ties between the two countries. Turkish-owned companies currently contribute to the employment of about 100,000 Egyptians.
Invited by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Ankara on Tuesday.
Erdoğan hosted a welcoming ceremony for Abbas on Wednesday before the two leaders sat down for talks on the future of Palestine and Israel’s actions undermining hopes for a solution.
The two leaders, who were scheduled to hold a joint news conference later on Wednesday, focused on the latest developments regarding Palestine, bilateral ties between Ankara and Ramallah, and regional developments.
Israel’s attacks on Gaza, international efforts against its attempts to annex the West Bank, and steps taken by the Netanyahu government to expel Palestinians from their territories, both through its genocidal campaign in Gaza and through illegal settlements, were expected to be on the agenda during the meeting.
According to the latest U.N. secretary-general’s report on settlements, Israeli authorities advanced or approved plans to build 4,750 settlement units in the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, between March 14 and June 12.
On March 25, the Israeli government also approved the establishment or legalization of 34 illegal settlements in Area C of the West Bank, the largest number approved in a single Israeli government decision, according to the same U.N. report.
U.N. Security Council Resolution 2334 affirms that Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including occupied East Jerusalem, have “no legal validity” and constitute a flagrant violation of international law.
The meeting was also expected to address attacks on holy sites, such as Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem, led by Israeli politicians, the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and initiatives led by Türkiye. The Gaza peace plan and reconstruction efforts in Palestine, particularly in Gaza, were also expected to be discussed.
Türkiye champions the Palestinian cause on every platform and seeks to be a voice for Palestinians in the international community. President Erdoğan raises the issue at international events, and this is also expected to be the case at next month’s United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States.
Thanks to Türkiye’s diplomatic initiatives, the number of leaders and influential figures speaking out against Israel has increased. Ankara continues its efforts to intensify international pressure on Israel while consistently raising the Palestinian cause and Israel’s aggression on every platform.
On Gaza, Türkiye has consistently supported an immediate cease-fire, expanded humanitarian access, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, while remaining among the strongest international critics of Israel’s attacks. Working in close strategic alignment with Doha, Ankara has coordinated joint mediation efforts alongside Qatar and regional partners to enforce a lasting cease-fire, secure uninterrupted humanitarian relief and advance diplomatic channels for a comprehensive regional peace settlement.
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