Turkey will not allow the suffering of Palestinians to continue, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said at a conference in Cairo on the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
"We are truly at a historic turning point. We will never allow the suffering of the Palestinians to continue," he said, emphasising that "we cannot see innocent people being slaughtered."
The Turkish minister repeated his country's proposal for establishing a system of guarantor countries within the framework of a two-state solution, Israel and a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
"We have to implement the guarantee mechanisms. We must ensure that both sides fulfill their obligations necessary for a just peace. Turkey is taking steps to nurture this perspective and is working to ensure a fair, secure and dignified future for all in the region. Now is the right time," he said.
"Turkey believes that with the cessation of hostilities and the unconditional promotion of humanitarian aid to Gaza , this (what is happening) can be turned into an opportunity. A peace process can begin on the basis of a two-state solution," Turkey's top diplomat said.
"This is possible through the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital," Fidan reiterated.
He accused Israel of disrespecting the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Muslim and Christian holy values in Jerusalem.
“We are only dealing with the erosion of universal values and the distortion of actual facts on the ground. Israel is taking advantage of this flaw in the (i.e. global) system. It does not respect the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Muslim and Christian sacred values in Jerusalem," he said.
"With its settlement policies in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, Israel is violating the rights of the Palestinians living there. It does this under the pretense or pretext of fighting terrorism. Israel tries to show the plight of the Palestinians as normal," stressed Hakan Fidan.
"We say no to that. Neither for the Palestinians nor for anyone else," he concluded.
Mitsotakis at the Cairo Peace Summit
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke of a particularly serious situation in the Middle East in his address at the Cairo Summit for Peace on Saturday, hosted by Egypt to discuss the impact of the armed conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Mitsotakis pointed out what he called the sound initiative to convene the summit, thanking Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, and adding that "in these critical moments for peace and stability in the region, I am here today as a true friend and neighbor."
The key message "we need to send today is that we all condemn terrorism in all its forms, and mourn the loss of life and harm to innocent civilians from the violence in Israel and Gaza following the October 7 terror attacks by Hamas," the prime minister said.
"There are innocent victims on both sides," while "there are civilians being held hostage and there can be no peace talks until they are released," he stressed.
Mitsotakis underlined that Greece's position was clear from the beginning regarding the fact that Israel has the right to self-defense in accordance with international and humanitarian law.
He emphasised that collective punishment is prohibited by laws governing wars, and that this legislation is designed to ensure the limits of harm that can be inflicted on people during an active war.
The Greek prime minister also pointed out that Hamas is a terrorist organization that causes losses and inflicts pain to both Israelis and Palestinians, and that it "should not be frustratingly identified with the Palestinian people."
"The Palestinian people do not deserve this. President Abbas, who represents the Palestinian Authority, has bravely stood against violence since the beginning of the crisis," he added.
Mitsotakis said there is a risk of serious escalation with broad-ranging consequences, and that "Egypt and Jordan are also concerned about the forcible displacement of Gazans, and our country stands in solidarity, recognising that an expansion of the conflict would have serious consequences for the future of the region, while the cost in human lives should not be underestimated."
"Our first thought these days should be with the victims," he said, reiterating that the hostages must be freed and returned to their families, and the Red Cross should gain access and immediately advance humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, acknowledging the efforts of the UN SecGen and welcoming the opening of a humanitarian corridor from Egypt to Gaza.
The Greek prime minister emphasized that "Greece's efforts are in harmony with those of its European partners within the EU," and that "we are ready to contribute to peace initiatives, hoping, as a neighboring country, that de-escalation can be achieved, and that humanitarian aid can be provided to all people."
"The future we want for this region - the future of sustainable peace, stability and prosperity - can only be achieved through a peace process on a two-states basis," Mitsotakis underlined.
One thing that should "be clear to all of us is that no military intervention can replace a viable political solution," stressed the Greek premier.
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