ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for increased pressure on the United States to intervene and stop Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza. Following his return from the Arab-Islamic Extraordinary summit in Riyadh, where leaders condemned Israeli forces’ actions in Gaza, Erdogan emphasized the importance of securing a ceasefire.
While speaking to Turkish reporters in Istanbul, Erdogan outlined his approach, stating, “We should hold talks with Egypt and the Gulf countries and pressure the United States. The US should increase its pressure on Israel, and the West should follow suit. It is vital for us to secure a ceasefire.”
Erdogan, who did not rule out a meeting with President Joe Biden, highlighted the crucial role the United States must play in addressing the situation. He stated, “The most important country that needs to be involved is the United States, which has influence on Israel.” However, Erdogan added that he would not initiate contact with President Biden directly.
Erdogan Says US Must Accept Gaza as Palestinian Land
Erdogan underlined a key condition for any agreement, asserting that the US must accept Gaza as Palestinian land. He stated, “We cannot agree with Biden if he approaches [the conflict] by seeing Gaza as the land of occupying settlers or Israel, rather than the land of the Palestinian people.”
Erdogan reiterated his call for an international conference to address the Israel-Palestine conflict. He emphasized, “Nothing can serve peace more than a meeting of all regional actors, including warring sides.”
