Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan informed leaders at a NATO summit on Wednesday that a ceasefire between Iran and Israel must be made permanent, his office added, and urged a Gaza ceasefire to help ease the humanitarian crisis there.
Turkey Slams Israel’s Actions in Gaza and Against Iran
NATO ally Turkey has been strongly critical of Israel and its attack on Palestinian Hamas militants in Gaza, which has been devastated after two years of fighting and had its population driven out.
Ankara has also stated that Israel’s “state terrorism” against Iran – which borders it for 560 kilometers – raised the stakes of a broader war, and welcomed the Israel-Iran ceasefire.
Erdogan Meets European Leaders at The Hague
During the NATO summit in The Hague, Erdogan had meetings with the leaders of France, Germany and Britain regarding tensions in the region, bilateral relations and ties with the EU and defence industry cooperation. Erdogan also met U.S. President Donald Trump later on Tuesday.
“Our President said he welcomed the ceasefire between Israel and Iran, that the de facto situation needs to turn into lasting calm as soon as possible, that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is increasingly continuing, and that a lasting ceasefire is also needed there urgently,” Erdogan’s office said after his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.
German Chancellor Also Urged to Act on Gaza Crisis
He made that appeal again to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and noted that a resolution had to be found to the Gaza humanitarian crisis.
Erdogan also informed British Prime Minister Keir Starmer that “these tensions should not make the humanitarian crisis in Gaza – which has hit an abysmal point – overlook.”
Erdogan Backs Diplomacy Between Tehran and Washington
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan remarked that Tehran and Washington’s issues could be resolved only through diplomacy and that everybody needs to help establish eternal peace in the Middle East.
“We welcome the ceasefire achieved through the efforts of U.S. President Trump,” he told a press conference following the summit. “We expect the parties to unconditionally abide by the call of my friend Trump.”
