Erdoğan highlighted the severe pressures and harassment faced by Palestinians, exacerbated by Israel's ongoing attacks on Gaza for the past 440 days. “Our 50 thousand brothers and sisters, many of them women and children, have died a martyr’s death and over 100 thousand Palestinians have been injured in these attacks. Al-Quds, which hosts Al-Aqsa Mosque, our first kiblah, is being crushed through policies of Judaization,” he stated.

Erdoğan also addressed the additional challenges faced by Lebanon due to the political and social repercussions, as well as the physical destruction caused by Israeli attacks. He emphasized the efforts of Islamic countries to stop the genocide in Gaza and find a permanent solution to the Palestine issue, while criticizing the Israeli administration for continuing its attacks with support from the U.S. and many Western countries.

Call for Excluding Israel from the International Arena

Erdoğan pointed out that Syria has also become a target of Israel's expansionism, particularly in the Golan Heights. He urged the D-8 countries to show a stronger reaction against these unlawful acts that threaten regional stability.

Erdoğan stressed the importance of imposing a weapons embargo on Israel, stopping trade with it, and excluding it from the international arena. He noted that 52 countries and two international organizations have supported the initiative to stop arms sales to Israel. He also encouraged more countries to join the case opened by South Africa at the International Court of Justice, which Türkiye has also supported.

Development of New Dynamics for Peace

President Erdoğan emphasized the need for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the importance of launching a negotiation process to implement a two-state solution. He called for strong support for the ceasefire negotiations led by Qatar and Egypt. Erdoğan expressed hope that the establishment of a ceasefire in Lebanon and the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria would mark the beginning of a more positive era.

He highlighted Türkiye's humanitarian aid efforts, noting that the total amount of aid sent to Lebanon is about to reach 1.5 thousand tons. Erdoğan called for the development of new dynamics for internal peace in Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria, stressing the importance of regional solidarity without interference in each other's domestic affairs.

Erdoğan concluded by urging the D-8 countries to work harder for the establishment of a just and permanent peace in the region. (ILKHA)