Highlights from President Erdoğan’s statements are as follows; Right at the beginning of my words, I wish God a speedy recovery to our Palestinian and Qatari brothers who were martyred in the heinous attack carried out by genocidal Israel on Qatar. May Almighty God bless our martyrs with heaven and His beauty.
"THE LATEST ATTACK HAS TAKEN ISRAEL’S BANDITISM TO A NEW DIMENSION"
Since October 7, 2023, we have held extraordinary summits of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League to address Israel's genocide in Gaza. At these summits, we declared to the world that Israel's escalating aggression now poses a threat to our region that must be stopped. We have repeatedly demonstrated that this distorted mindset, fueled by terrorism, poses a risk to international stability and security.
After Palestine, Israel attacked Lebanon, Yemen, Iran, and Syria. It targeted civilian ships off the coast of Tunisia and assassinated elected politicians and statesmen. Now, it has attacked Qatar, the mediator. This latest attack has taken Israel's banditry to a whole new level. In this regard, I find it very significant and meaningful that we hold today's summit in nature.
"WE FACE A TERRORIST MENTALITY THAT FEEDS ON BLOOD"
Our global meeting reiterates its importance as a manifestation of the Islamic world's unconditional support for Qatar. It is hoped that the decisions we will take today will once again declare this heartfelt sentiment in writing worldwide. I am pleased to observe the dignified management of this crisis under the astute and wise leadership of my brother, Emir Sheikh Tamim. As Turkey, I always support Qatar as a friendly and brotherly ally, and I reiterate: It is now undeniable that Netanyahu's true goal is to continue the massacre and genocide in Palestine, while at the same time, indiscriminately dragging the entire region into uninterrupted instability. We are facing a terrorist mentality that feeds on chaos and bloodshed, and a state it embodies. This mentality, which openly violates the Charter of the United Nations and defies international law and the rules-based international system, still survives because its crimes remain unpunished.
"WE ARE READY TO SHARE OUR EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD OF DEFENSE"
We know that some impertinent actors will not stop in the short term and will accelerate their policies of occupation and instability. We are aware that we have the resources to prevent this. It is now imperative that we achieve self-sufficiency in certain areas. A deterrent defense industry and development are foremost among these. I want you to know that we are ready to share our capabilities and experience with you, our brothers and sisters.
To win the next decades, I believe we must intensify our cooperation in these areas now. I believe Israel must also be pressured economically. Previous experience demonstrates that such steps are effective. As Turkey, we have halted all commercial transactions with Israel for the past year and a half. Thus, we have lost an annual $9.5 billion. I also believe that supporting the genocide case filed at the International Court of Justice is crucial.
Likewise, we must be able to implement concrete steps and mechanisms that will ensure the security of the region by working together. I believe that there are things that can be done within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. We will continue our struggle with determination until a Palestinian state comes into being, based on the 1967 borders, in geographical integrity, with East Jerusalem as its capital. In this sacred cause, we will accept neither deportation, nor genocide, nor division.
I hope that the summit and the decisions we will make will lead to additional steps to stop the Israeli threat and that the results of our meeting will be followed to the letter.
