Duty to Secure Gaza Peace Lies First With Islamic World, Then Global Community:Erdogan

ISTANBUL, Oct 1 (VoM): Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared that the responsibility to ensure lasting peace in Gaza rests first with the Islamic world and then with the broader international community. Speaking at the opening of Türkiye’s new legislative year on Wednesday, Erdogan praised parliament for what he called its principled stance on the conflict, saying it had “passed the Gaza test with pride.”

“The most powerful response to Israel’s actions in Gaza has risen from this parliamentary chamber,” Erdogan told lawmakers. “Gaza has had enough of blood, tears, and destruction. This shame must end immediately.”

The president vowed that Türkiye would continue pressing for the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital along the 1967 borders. He emphasized that Ankara’s commitment would persist “until our final breath.”

Erdogan’s remarks came days after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 20-point ceasefire framework for Gaza, calling for prisoner exchanges, the disarmament of Hamas, a phased Israeli withdrawal, and the formation of a neutral Palestinian governing committee. While the plan outlines a possible pathway to Palestinian statehood, it stops short of guaranteeing independence.

Erdogan rejected half measures, stressing, “Our brothers and sisters in Gaza are the closest witnesses to Türkiye’s efforts. We never abandoned the brave sons of Gaza who resisted modern weapons with courage.”

He further described Türkiye’s role as a “moral beacon of its time,” hoping for a future where “peace, tranquility, and security prevail, from the river to the sea.”

Turning to regional affairs, Erdogan reaffirmed Türkiye’s support for Syria’s territorial unity, rejecting any attempts to divide the war-torn country.

“We will never allow our Kurdish brothers to be exploited by terrorist groups or foreign powers hostile to Turks, Kurds, Arabs, or Muslims,” he said, noting that Ankara is pursuing diplomatic efforts to secure Syria’s sovereignty.

He warned, however, that Türkiye would act if diplomacy failed, citing the country’s long-standing security concerns along its southern border.

The remarks follow the collapse of the decades-long Baath Party regime in Syria last December, when President Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia. A transitional government led by Ahmad al-Sharaa has since taken charge in Damascus.

Erdogan’s message underscored Ankara’s determination to remain a central actor in shaping both Gaza’s and Syria’s futures, as Türkiye continues to balance its regional leadership ambitions with its calls for peace and stability.