Turkey calls for global meet to discuss Middle East peace process

In order to resolve the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians permanently, an international peace conference ought to be called, according to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s remarks on Saturday.

Erdogan was speaking at a joint Islamic-Arab summit being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where dignitaries were assembled to press Israel to terminate hostilities in Gaza.

Erdogan declared, “Israel is taking revenge…on Gazan babies, children, and women,” restating his demand for an immediate end to hostilities. “What is urgent in Gaza is not pauses for few hours, rather we need a permanent ceasefire.”

Turkey supports a two-state solution and hosts members of Hamas, which it does not consider to be a terrorist organisation, in contrast to the United States, Britain, and other Western nations. Turkey has sharply increased its criticism of Israel as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has worsened.

“We cannot put Hamas resisters defending their homeland in the same category as the occupiers,” Erdogan stated.

Erdogan stated that the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders is necessary for a long-term resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“We think the best foundation for this will be an international peace conference. In order to maintain the peace that has to be established in this situation, we are prepared to take all necessary steps, including acting as guarantors,” he declared.

Erdogan claimed that Israel’s nuclear weapons were disclosed by Israel’s Heritage Minister Amihay Eliyahu’s comments regarding the possibility of an Israeli nuclear attack on Gaza, and he called for an international probe.

“If there are nuclear bombs that were hidden from the examination of the International Atomic Energy Agency, they should be revealed as well,” Erdogan stated.

Despite having roughly 90 nuclear warheads, according to the Federation of American Scientists, Israel does not publicly acknowledge possessing nuclear weapons.

In response to Eliyahu’s remarks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “until further notice” suspended him from cabinet meetings.

(With agency inputs)