Lisbon: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has called on the international community to apply effective pressure on Israel to permit the delivery of essential food and shelter supplies into the Gaza Strip. Fidan emphasized the critical need for humanitarian assistance during an interview with Portugal’s public broadcaster RTP, conducted during his working visit to Lisbon.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, Fidan highlighted that over the past two years, more than 70,000 civilians have been killed in Gaza by Israeli actions, with a significant portion being women and children. He criticized the international community and institutions for failing to stop what he described as a ‘massacre unfolding in the 21st century.’ Fidan stressed that the current fragile ceasefire only allows limited aid, which is insufficient to meet urgent needs, especially during harsh winter conditions. He stated that it is unacceptable on humanitarian and moral grounds to allow people to suffer from hunger, death, or freezing cold.
Fidan also discussed the Russia-Ukraine war, expressing a positive stance on the peace plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration. He reaffirmed Ankara’s support for efforts to end the conflict through dialogue and a ceasefire. He noted that the war has escalated beyond a bilateral conflict, leading to significant political and economic divisions, and triggering an energy crisis affecting Europe and beyond. Fidan mentioned that U.S. initiatives align with Turkey’s mediation efforts, emphasizing Ankara’s unique position to facilitate negotiations and expressing hope for a swift resolution to the war.
On the subject of Turkey-EU relations, Fidan described them as historic and complementary. He noted that Turkey’s EU accession has been stalled due to political issues within the bloc, despite Turkey’s dynamic economy, advanced defense industry, youthful population, and strategic geographic location. Fidan suggested that integrating Turkey’s military and regional influence with the European Union could lead to unprecedented cooperation for the region and the world.