By Janet Ekstract WASHINGTON D.C. – In a press conference after the NATO Summit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan admonished Israel for its unwillingness to reach a ceasefire-hostage deal and for its continuing carnage in the Gaza Strip. As Erdogan said in Washington D.C. after the summit: “It is not possible for the Israeli administration, which has trampled on the fundamental values of our alliance, to continue its partnership relationship with NATO.” On the sidelines of the summit, Erdogan used his time with NATO leaders to emphasize Israel’s “atrocities” in occupied Palestinian territories. He labeled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies in the region “expansionist and reckless” – saying Netanyahu’s policies endanger Israeli citizens and that of the entire region, not just the Palestinians. The Turkish leader also vowed not to approve anything within NATO as he commented: “Until a comprehensive, sustainable peace is established in Palestine, attempts at cooperation with Israel within NATO will not be approved by Turkiye.” Erdogan, highly critical of the international community on their stance, remarked: “It is important that responsible members of the international community, join hands for a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine based on the 1967 borders.”
Meanwhile, the Turkish president said that his government is “very pleased that the number of countries recognizing Palestine is increasing,” and ratcheted up condemnation against Israel by calling on other countries to file complaints against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). After South Africa filed a case against Israel with the ICJ, accusing it of genocide, a group of other countries followed suit then Turkiye also filed its own case with documented evidence, as well. The situation in the Gaza Strip is unsafe to deliver humanitarian aid, according to a United Nations report that states, it’s too dangerous for anyone to be on the ground as long as Israel keeps up its increasing attacks in the enclave. To date, at least 38,000 Palestinians have been killed with the enclave in close to total ruin and the head of the World Food Program (WFP) Cindy McCain having reported over two months ago that the entire region in Gaza has widespread famine. Erdogan and Hakan Fidan, his foreign minister have consistently called for an immediate ceasefire, hostage deal and a two-state solution. Turkiye went so far as to cut off trade with Israel and is involved in global diplomatic efforts to achieve an immediate ceasefire/hostage deal in Gaza with an ultimate two-state solution.
At issue in even getting to the point where there could be an actual ceasefire, is Netanyahu’s far-right extremist coalition who are dead-set against any ceasefire deal and have already tried to land grab in Gaza Strip for Jewish settlers. Israel has allowed Jewish settlers to commit violence against Palestinians, unabated in Gaza and the West Bank with no threat of punishment. Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department announced months ago, sanctions against those Jewish settlers with ties to the U.S. for their violent acts. Another factor in the ceasefire saga is the fact that Netanyahu who was already convicted on three counts of corruption is refusing a ceasefire deal, analysts said because he would then have to come before Israel’s court to be sentenced for those charges.
