Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the Israeli government is trying to remove the Palestinian issue from the international agenda by inciting instability and new conflicts in the Middle East. However, this attempt will not succeed and Turkey will continue to take a strong stand for Palestine on all international platforms, he said.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ankara, Erdogan said Israel’s policies of occupation, forced displacement and occupation of Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem had intensified. Citing UN data, he said that so far in 2026, some 3,800 Palestinians have been displaced and around 100 have been killed due to settler violence, evictions and demolitions.
Erdogan reiterated Turkey’s commitment to the establishment of an independent, sovereign and geographically contiguous Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. At the same time, he opposed any attempt to change the current status of holy sites, including Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Regarding Gaza, Erdogan said that Israel has taken a stance of continuing the conflict despite the ceasefire and international initiatives. He called for ensuring security in Gaza and for the rapid start of reconstruction and rehabilitation activities.
On the other hand, Mahmoud Abbas thanked Erdogan for Turkey’s support for the rights and independence of the Palestinian people. He said that the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement could be the basis for establishing stability and security in the region.
