TurkishJournal – Enes Kılıç – US’ current efforts for a solution to the ongoing humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip are a result of mounting international pressure, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
“We actually see America’s search for a solution to the humanitarian disaster in Gaza as a result of the pressure put on the US by world public opinion,” spokesman Oncu Keceli told the reporters in the capital Ankara.
Referring to the last week’s visit of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to the US, Keceli said the Gaza issue dominated the talks.
“We strongly conveyed to the Americans that an immediate and complete cease-fire should be established in Gaza and that a process towards a permanent two-state solution should be initiated immediately after this,” Keceli said.
Türkiye and the US agree that Gaza civilians should not be harmed further and that humanitarian aid will continue to be provided “continuously and uninterruptedly” to Gaza, he added.
The spokesman stressed that the aid to be delivered to Gaza by road is important and that the UN and non-governmental organizations specialized in this field also made the same observation.
“This was the basis of the messages we conveyed to the US.
“We said: ‘Let’s achieve a cease-fire as soon as possible, and in the meantime, use all your influence on Israel to ensure that humanitarian aid enters Gaza in the most effective, rapid and sustainable way possible’,” Keceli said.
Türkiye is in constant contact with the Egyptian authorities, he said, adding that for reasons caused by Israel, tons of humanitarian aid materials are waiting on the Egyptian side of the border.
About a question on US intentions to build a pier off the Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid, Keceli said: “First, this is a good development if it means America acknowledges the humanitarian disaster in Gaza.”
On the other hand, he said: “We do not find it appropriate to carry out some less effective attempts when it is possible to deliver aid much more easily, much cheaper and more effectively by road.”
About the aid ship delivery from Southern Cyprus to Gaza, Keceli said: “The interlocutor of the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus is the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Therefore, they will make the necessary comments on this issue.”
“The only thing I can say from our perspective is that we do not allow the TRNC’s rights in the Eastern Mediterranean to be damaged or violated in any way,” he added. (AA)
