Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday reaffirmed his country’s commitment to peace and dialogue, while condemning Israel's actions in Palestine and outlining Türkiye's role in global security.
"We once again declare that we prefer dialogue over conflict, common sense and global conscience over polarization," Erdogan said in a speech at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, emphasizing Türkiye's stance against division in the international community.
He also called for a broader, more inclusive approach to global governance, saying: "The world is bigger than five, because humanity is bigger than five," in reference to the UN Security Council’s unrepresentative membership.
Erdogan further stressed Türkiye's historical and ongoing connection to the region. "We are not just residents of this land; we are its rightful owners. We have been here for a thousand years, and God willing, we will be here for many more centuries to come."
A significant portion of Erdogan's address focused on the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"For the past 1.5 years, Israel has been openly committing genocide against the Palestinian people, disregarding basic human rights and trampling on international law," Erdogan said.
He described Israel as a "terrorist state" and denounced the international community’s silence. "Remaining silent in the face of Israel's massacres is to be complicit in this crime," he said.
Recalling Türkiye’s welcoming of the Jewish people centuries ago, the Turkish president said: "500 years ago, we welcomed the people of Israel, the Jews, who were expelled from their lands. What Türkiye was back then, it is the same today."
He urged the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, to take action and end the bloodshed, calling on them to "stand with the Palestinian people."
