Minister Fidan briefed the Turkish Grand National Assembly, which convened in an extraordinary meeting under the chairmanship of the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly, Numan Kurtulmuş, to discuss Israel’s attack on Gaza, the genocide and oppression it has implemented against the Palestinian people, and the famine policies, as well as the current situation in the region.

Fidan emphasized that the genocide in Gaza has deepened, de facto annexation steps have begun in the West Bank, tensions on the Iran-Israel line have escalated into a 12-day war, Israeli aggression has spread to Lebanon and Syria, and provocations targeting the holy sites in East Jerusalem, especially the Al-Aqsa Mosque, are increasing. He said this dire situation points to a grave rupture that closely concerns the future of both Türkiye and the region.

"To briefly summarize the current situation, Israel has been disregarding basic human values before the eyes of the world by committing the crime of genocide in Gaza for two years," Fidan said.

Underlining that the general situation in Gaza is extremely dire, Fidan stated that Israel is the most racist government in history.

Fidan said,"As Türkiye, we oppose any plan that would deport the Palestinian people from Gaza, regardless of the form or name they are under. Regardless of who presents it, such a plan is null and void in our eyes."

"THE GREATEST RESISTANCE IS STARTING NOW"

Fidan, who stated that they had been warning us since the first day, said,"If Israel is allowed to continue its reckless attacks in Palestine, especially Gaza, this will not only affect the Palestinians but will also set the entire region on fire."

"The atrocities committed in Gaza have already been recorded as one of the darkest pages in human history," Fidan said, emphasizing that the Palestinians' resistance against the Israeli army will never be forgotten.

Minister Fidan said,"However, the greatest resistance is beginning now. Perhaps this bloodshed will not stop immediately. However, we are certain that this blessed resistance will change the course of history, become a symbol of the oppressed, and shake the foundations of a rotten order."

Fidan emphasized Israel's attacks on Syria during the transition period and its continuing occupational presence inside Syria, stating that, in this regard, it"expanded its occupation of the Golan Heights, entered Syrian territory, and entered into a delusional state so daring as to strike Damascus."

Fidan said,"By touching sensitive points in Syria, Israel has clearly demonstrated that it does not want a Syria that is stable, strong, has achieved national unity and solidarity, and has territorial integrity. We will never allow Syria's ancient and valuable communities to be exploited for these distorted purposes."

Fidan, noting that the ongoing tension between Israel and Iran poses a risk to the entire region, stated that Israel's attacks on Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, and Iran throughout the year are actions that disregard international law and humanitarian values, threaten regional stability, and could drag the entire region into chaos.

Minister Fidan said,"This reckless attitude (Israel's attacks on Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria and Iran) is the clearest indicator of a terrorist state mentality that challenges the international order and is far from bearing state responsibility."

Fidan emphasized that the Palestinian cause is a priority advocated by all segments of society in Türkiye, saying,"There is no other country in the world that has taken more steps than Türkiye in terms of sanctions. We have implemented numerous diplomatic, legal, and commercial measures. We have completely cut off our trade with Israel. We have closed our ports to Israeli ships. We do not allow Turkish ships to go to Israeli ports. No other country has completely cut off its trade with Israel. We do not allow container ships carrying weapons and ammunition to Israel to enter our ports, nor do we allow aircraft to enter our airspace."

Fidan stated that all state bodies, especially President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and the Turkish nation as a whole embrace the Palestinian issue, saying,"This situation not only reflects the unity of our nation's conscience, but also points to a strategic unity of understanding that reveals where the threat originates."

Recalling that Israel had said last year that its strategy would not be limited to Gaza but would create a "wave of fire" that would spread throughout the region, Fidan said,"Unfortunately, we see with regret that the predictions we voiced in the Grand Assembly today are unfortunately coming true one by one."

Fidan noted that the events in Gaza deeply wounded the conscience of all humanity and said:

The Turkish nation feels intensely the pain of the Palestinian people who are subjected to oppression. Israel, taking advantage of the conditions in the region, is conducting military interventions beyond its borders, depopulating the region and attempting to design it with a strategy of making it uninhabitable, and committing all manner of unlawful acts to expand the territory it holds under illegal occupation.

Minister Fidan emphasized that more than 62,000 Palestinians were martyred in Gaza, saying,"85% of Gaza is still under Israeli military control. Not content with this, the (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu government is making preparations to occupy the remaining part of Gaza. As of today, information has been received that the army has ordered an operation."

Pointing out that the aim is to once again displace more than 1 million Palestinians struggling to survive in the region, Fidan said:

Military operations planned in densely populated areas are opening the door to new mass killings. Israel is using these conditions as an opportunity to completely eliminate the vision of a two-state solution. While the United Nations (UN) General Assembly has been able to pass some resolutions that reflect the conscience of the world public, thanks to the intensive efforts of our country, their lack of binding force has left the situation on the ground at the mercy of Israel and its supporters.

"(ISRAEL) HAS ADOPTED THE STRATEGY OF USING HUNGER AS A WEAPON"

Fidan pointed out that almost the entire world has abandoned Israel due to its attacks on Palestine, emphasizing that Israel continues its attacks only with the support of the United States.

Underlining that the real issue behind the tragedy unfolding in Gaza is that the order established after World War II is no longer able to meet today's challenges, Fidan said,"This is what we call the legitimacy crisis of the international system."

Fidan stated that contacts and negotiations continued with Qatar and Egypt throughout the process to ensure a permanent ceasefire, and added:

Israel's reluctance to reach any agreement, despite Hamas's flexibility, is a warning sign and reveals a very clear picture of the strategy at play. At this point, the main issue before us is the future of Gaza. Israel does not want any legitimate Palestinian administration in Gaza and continues its occupation and occupation of the region.

Fidan emphasized that the international community, the UN, and local NGOs agree that aid distribution should be undertaken by Israel, saying,"By obstructing aid distribution, Israel has caused the deaths of thousands of our Palestinian brothers and sisters. It has adopted the strategy of using hunger as a weapon. As a result of Israel's ongoing blockade, the UN has declared a famine in Gaza."

Pointing out that the situation in Gaza is not a natural disaster, Fidan emphasized the following:

This is the result of a deliberate and cruel policy that weaponizes hunger. The goal is clear: to reduce the areas outside the camps where Palestinians will be concentrated to rubble and to establish a coercive environment for Palestinians to flee Gaza. Taking advantage of the current climate of war and instability, Israel has also escalated its attacks in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel's state terrorism continues. Settlers under the protection of the Israeli army are attacking Palestinian people, their livelihoods, and their property. At the same time, raids on the Al-Aqsa Mosque continue.

"WE HAVE ALWAYS KEPT ISRAEL'S OPPRESSION AT THE FORE OF THE INTERNATIONAL AGENDA"

Fidan stated that the Netanyahu government's new illegal settlement projects, attacks on the ground, and attempts to drag the Palestinian Authority into financial ruin have increased in retaliation for some countries' recent decision to recognize Palestine. He said,"Palestine, under all-out attack, is struggling to survive. Israel is mistakenly believing it can ensure its own security by destabilizing the region. It has now adopted this as its policy."

Fidan, who stated that Israel had turned its airstrikes on Lebanon into a territorial invasion and occupied southern Lebanon, said,"On the other hand, the ongoing tension between Israel and Iran poses a risk for our entire region."

Fidan stated that Türkiye has always supported the Palestinians' struggle to exist in their own land, and noted:

We have always kept Israel's oppression at the forefront of the international agenda. As I have repeatedly stated before, our efforts on this issue have been pursued from the outset in two main directions. The first is to ensure the swift cessation of the current genocide and war in Gaza and the immediate arrival of humanitarian aid. Our second, parallel to this, is to keep the two-state solution on the agenda and ensure its acceptance worldwide. To this end, as you have witnessed, we have made an intense effort to mobilize the international community, alongside like-minded countries, and to put pressure on Israel. The strength we have received from our nation throughout this process has been our foundation for the decisive steps we have taken.

Fidan stated that Türkiye's resources and capabilities have been mobilized since the first day to deliver comprehensive humanitarian aid to Gaza, saying,"Since October 7th, our country has been among the leading countries in terms of in-kind and cash aid delivered to Gaza. Our total aid has exceeded 100,000 tons. We would like to thank AFAD and the Red Crescent in your presence for their tremendous efforts in delivering our aid to Gaza."

Fidan pointed out that Türkiye, with support from the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), has provided Gaza with enough flour to meet its needs for a year, saying,"Soup kitchens established by the Red Crescent provide hot meals to tens of thousands of people every day, and millions of liters of drinking water are being delivered to the public through the cooperation of AFAD and the Red Crescent. Furthermore, with the support of our Ministry of Health, hundreds of Palestinian patients and their companions are being evacuated to our country."

Fidan pointed out that Türkiye is also at the forefront of diplomacy, saying,"Our President (Recep Tayyip Erdoğan) has addressed this issue (Palestine) with all his interlocutors through his diplomacy at the global and regional levels, and continues to do so. You will recall that his historic speech on Palestine at the UN General Assembly last year was a manifesto that stirred the conscience of humanity."

Fidan stated that Türkiye has taken on an active role in various international structures through its intense diplomatic activity on multilateral platforms, and continued:

We have collaborated with international organizations such as the UN, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Arab League. To demonstrate our strong support for Palestine, we led the OIC-Arab League contact group with seven countries. We co-chaired the two-state solution working group with Ireland. With the initiative of our esteemed Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and the participation of our President, we organized the Parliamentary Group Supporting Palestine Meeting in Istanbul on April 18, 2025.

Minister Fidan pointed out that the importance of stopping arms transfers to Israel has become even more evident, saying,"In this context, we have signed an important international initiative at the UN with the participation of 52 countries, calling for the halting of the supply of arms and ammunition that feeds Israel's war machine."

Fidan stated that while taking all these steps, both intelligence diplomacy and open diplomacy were playing important roles in the ongoing ceasefire negotiations, saying,"We continued our talks with the parties and strived to take steps that would facilitate the establishment of a ceasefire as soon as possible on the path to lasting peace."

Fidan pointed out that despite the tragic situation in Gaza, thanks to Türkiye's stance and efforts against oppression, countries that previously supported Israel have begun to embrace the idea of a two-state solution, and said:

These initiatives, in which we spearheaded and actively participated, played a significant role in many countries' decision to recognize Palestine. Indeed, countries including the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Malta, New Zealand, Portugal, and Australia announced their intention to recognize the state of Palestine in September. This is a historic turning point in international diplomacy on the Palestinian issue. The fact that these countries have begun to vocally demand an end to the humanitarian disaster in Gaza is a long overdue but extremely valuable step.

Fidan emphasized that thanks to Türkiye's efforts, the false legitimacy Israel has built for years has now"crumbled, and the curtain of illusion it has erected has finally come down," adding,"The mask has fallen in the face of the magnitude of the brutality, and Western public opinion has been forced to engage in genuine soul-searching for the first time. As of today, approximately 150 countries have recognized Palestine. We are resolutely maintaining close contact with like-minded European countries like Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia, as well as the Islamic world."

Pointing out the importance of the meetings held this year to address the Palestinian issue, Fidan said:

Three days ago, we held comprehensive consultations on these issues with Ireland, which will take over the EU presidency in Dublin. As part of our presidency of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's Council of Foreign Ministers, we highlighted the Palestinian issue. As you know, we convened the Council of Foreign Ministers for an extraordinary meeting in Jeddah on August 25th. At this meeting, which we chaired, we discussed in detail how we can take a united, united stance as the Islamic world and how we can urgently mobilize the international community.

Fidan emphasized that the biggest task now is to maintain and further expand this historic momentum toward recognition of Palestine, saying,"On the other hand, we also attach importance to ensuring that the crimes committed by Israel do not go unpunished. On August 8, 2024, we applied to intervene in the genocide case filed by South Africa against Israel. Our country is one of only 13 countries involved in the genocide case filed by the Republic of South Africa at the International Court of Justice."

Fidan, noting that Türkiye actively participated in the consultation process regarding Israel's practices in the occupied Palestinian territories, said,"We made significant contributions to the process regarding Israel's legal responsibilities to the UN and other international organizations. We signed an agreement on June 21, 2025, for UNRWA, which provides critical assistance to Palestinian refugees, to open an office in Ankara."

"ISRAEL HAS BEGUN TO BE ISOLATED IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY"

Fidan stated that Israel's ultimate goal is to make Gaza uninhabitable and forcibly uproot Palestinians from their homeland, saying,"With the latest operation decision, the aim is to forcibly displace 1 million people in northern Gaza to the south, to squeeze the Gazans into a narrow and small area, and ultimately to force their departure from the region. We see that illegal settlers are already preparing to settle in Gaza land."

Fidan, noting the growing public reaction against Israel's genocide in Western countries, said,"Governments can no longer ignore this as they did before. Israel has begun to be isolated in the international community. It is important that these reactions become even more collective. In this context, we will continue to take steps with like-minded countries to cut off trade with Israel, completely suspend Israel's participation in UN Assembly activities, end arms and ammunition shipments to Israel, and isolate Israel from the international community."

Fidan pointed to the regional and global consequences that would arise if Israel continues its unstoppable, non-compliant stance in Palestine, saying,"Therefore, we will continue our contacts with leading actors to reduce tensions in our region and advance peace efforts. Our primary goal is to establish a basin of peace and stability in the Middle East by operating on the principle of 'regional solutions to regional problems.'"

Fidan, stating that a ceasefire in Gaza would reduce tensions in the region, said,"Therefore, we are clearly warning you from here. Today, we face an Israel that has vowed to set the region ablaze. The dream of a Greater Israel is a recipe for disaster for the region. Unless the Netanyahu government is reined in, there will be no peace in the Middle East. Constant conflict and instability, other than the distorted ambitions of the Netanyahu government, benefit no country in the region, including Israel."

"PALESTINIANS' CONTINUED RESISTANCE AGAINST THE ISRAEL ARMY WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN"

Minister Fidan stated that the only way forward is a two-state solution based on the establishment of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, saying,"There appears to be no other option that will ensure peace, stability, security, and prosperity in our region. This requires consensus and harmony among Palestinian groups, regional countries, Islamic countries, and Western countries. We are continuing our intensive efforts in this direction."

Fidan said that it is important to mobilize the public opinion of the countries that support Israel, and added:

In this context, we consider it beneficial for our political parties to maintain close contact with their counterparts in these countries. The support of all political parties on this issue is crucial. We truly value the contacts of you, our esteemed members of parliament, within the framework of parliamentary diplomacy. We are deeply pleased that the Palestinian cause has a trans-partisan character, despite the differing political views within our Grand Assembly. With the support of all political parties in our Assembly, we are working to end the cycle of violence and bring peace to our region.

Fidan stated that the atrocities committed in Gaza have already been recorded as one of the darkest pages in human history, saying,"The Palestinians' resistance against the Israeli army will never be forgotten. However, the greatest resistance is beginning now. This bloodshed may not stop immediately, but we are certain that this blessed resistance will change the course of history, become a symbol of the oppressed, and shake the foundations of a rotten order. It must not be forgotten that prosperity cannot be achieved through oppression, and every oppressor ultimately prepares for his own end."

Minister Fidan emphasized that Türkiye will continue to be the loud voice of justice and conscience under the leadership of President Erdoğan, saying,"As Turkey, we will continue to be the guiding star for the construction of a more just order. From now on, we will continue to be the hope of the oppressed and the enemy of the oppressor."