Ankara: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stated that the Palestinian people in Gaza will not surrender to aggression, asserting that Israel will ultimately fall victim to its own ambitions and aggressive policies. Speaking to reporters aboard the presidential plane on his return from a visit to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Erdogan said, “Despite the ongoing attacks, the people of Gaza have not surrendered, and I don’t believe they will. Israel is acting like a raging beast attacking everyone, and eventually, it will become a victim of its own greed.”
According to National Iraqi News Agency, Erdogan emphasized Turkey’s continued support for Gaza under all circumstances and noted that Ankara is closely monitoring the steps taken by the United States on the issue. “The international community, which has long supported Israel, can no longer conceal its stance or cover up its double standards,” Erdogan added.
Regarding developments in Syria, Erdogan said Syrian President Ahmad al-Shar’a has taken a ‘firm stance’ on recent events, particularly the clashes in the southern city of Sweida, and has made no ‘concessions.’ He added that Turkey has expressed its readiness to fully support Syria in overcoming the current crisis.
Erdogan accused Israel of undermining regional stability, stating: “Israel continues its provocations and does not want stability in the region. It believes that a unified Syria is not in its interest.” He stressed the importance of making it clear to the world that “Israel is obstructing efforts to establish stability in Syria.”
On the issue of Syrian refugees, Erdogan said that Turkey is working to accelerate voluntary repatriation. ‘We will provide all necessary support to speed up the voluntary return of Syrians. This will contribute to Syria’s recovery and help secure our southern borders,’ he stated.
Touching on counterterrorism efforts, Erdogan reiterated Turkey’s commitment to eliminating terrorism, saying the country remains on high alert against any destabilizing attempts. He noted that the disarmament process of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) has already begun, and relevant authorities are taking the necessary measures to ensure its success.
Regarding relations with the European Union, Erdogan reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to full membership and called on EU members to adopt a long-term strategic vision toward Turkey. He emphasized that conflicting positions held by some EU states hinder the development of stronger ties.