By Janet Ekstract
ISTANBUL- On Saturday, speaking to journalists on his return from COP28 in Dubai, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated that the only way out of war between Israel and Hamas is a two-state solution, As Erdogan commented: “We have come to a point with our interlocutors that Gaza (issue) cannot be debated if there is no two-state solution. If we prioritize a two-state solution, the Gaza (issue) and threats will disappear.” He said that Türkiye and other Islamic nations are continuing to work on a solution for lasting peace in that region. He also emphasized that Türkiye has stressed “we are in favor of a permanent ceasefire rather than a humanitarian break…There was an opportunity for peace here, and unfortunately, we have lost this opportunity for now, due to Israel’s uncompromising approach.”
The Turkish leader said: “We continue our contacts with state leaders. While focusing on the Gaza and Palestine issue, Islamic countries, on the other hand, have gathered more frequently to realize the principle of regional peoples laying claim to their own problems which we have advocated for years. The institutionalization of this, may be our biggest gain.” The Turkish president added that a contact group formed by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League plans a visit to the U.S. to discuss a possible resolution of the conflict in Gaza after meeting with authorities in London, Paris, Barcelona and the United Nations. He reiterated that Hamas cannot be excluded from a two-state solution and that the OIC and Arab League members agreed they won’t join discussions that do not include a two-state solution. As Erdogan concluded: “I stand by my position. No matter what anybody says, I can never accept Hamas as a terrorist group. The exclusion of Hamas is not a realistic scenario.” He also brushed off the Biden administration’s concerns about Turkiye supporting Hamas. Erdogan added: “We make our foreign policy in Ankara and design it only according to Turkiye’s interests and our people’s expectations. You cannot expect us to interpret Hamas in this sense while rewarding the PKK, YPG, FETO (Gulenist terror group) and even hosting them at the Oval Office.” Türkiye has already sent documents including videos to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to hold Israel accountable for what Erdogan labels “war crimes” and “genocide” committed by Netanyahu and Israeli officials.
