Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said it is unfair to place the full burden of peace on Hamas or the Palestinians. Speaking to reporters after returning from Azerbaijan, he said Israel must stop its attacks for peace to be possible. He stressed the importance of the ongoing ceasefire talks in Egypt and expressed hope for positive news soon.
Erdogan confirmed that Türkiye remains in contact with Hamas. He said Turkish officials are advising Hamas on the most suitable path for Palestine’s future. The Turkish president also revealed that U.S. President Donald Trump had asked Türkiye to help convince Hamas toward peace. Erdogan expressed support for Trump’s efforts to broker peace.
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He firmly stated that Gaza must remain part of Palestine and should be governed by Palestinians. Erdogan also criticized Israel for being the main obstacle to peace despite peace proposals from Trump’s administration. He called for a fair and balanced approach to resolving the conflict.
Erdogan also addressed regional issues beyond Gaza. He said Kurdish-led SDF forces in Syria must honor their promises and integrate into the Syrian state system. He warned that Türkiye’s patient and principled stance should not be mistaken for weakness. Türkiye continues to monitor developments in Syria closely.
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On the U.S.-Türkiye front, Erdogan said he raised the issue of F-35 fighter jets during his meeting with President Trump. He stated that there was no valid reason to remove Türkiye from the program. Erdogan expressed optimism that the dispute would be resolved and sanctions lifted. He described his visit to the White House as the start of a new era in U.S.-Türkiye relations.