Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reaffirmed Sunday that no power can force Gazans out of their “eternal” homeland, as Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem belong to Palestinians.
“No power can force the people of Gaza out of their eternal and everlasting homeland that they have inhabited for thousands of years. Palestine, including Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, belongs to the Palestinians,” Erdogan told reporters in Istanbul before flying to Malaysia.
The US administration’s proposals on Gaza, made under pressure from the Zionist regime, are not worth talking about, said Erdogan, referring to US President Donald Trump’s proposal to relocate Palestinians.
“These efforts are totally futile and serve no purpose,” he said.
Erdogan also hailed the Palestinian group Hamas for fulfilling its promises in ongoing prisoner exchanges with Israel, despite Israeli attempts to undermine the process.
Regarding the situation in Syria, Erdogan said that as mass graves are uncovered in different parts of the country, the bloody face of the Assad regime is being exposed.
He expressed hope for Syria’s stability under President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s leadership, suggesting the country would soon find peace.
No place for terrorist groups in Syria
After the speech, Erdogan responded to questions from journalists regarding the potential for peace in Ukraine, particularly after the arrival of Trump.
He expressed optimism, saying: “Of course, we have not lost hope for peace at this moment, and we do not want to lose it.”
He also noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had indicated his readiness to meet if such a request arose.
Erdogan also welcomed messages from both Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling them positive and stressing Türkiye’s willingness to play a role in facilitating peace.
“Whatever is required of us, we are ready to do it as Türkiye,” he said.
In addition to discussing the war in Ukraine, Erdogan addressed questions about Türkiye’s stance on the presence of terrorist organizations in Syria.
There is no place for terrorist groups in Syria, he said, asserting that the struggle that President al-Sharaa is leading there is against terrorists groups.
“Terrorist organizations must end their activities in Syrian territory either by laying down their weapons or being made to do so. We discussed this clearly with Mr. al-Sharaa,” he added.
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