Ankara sees growing Palestine recognition as blow to 'Israel'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
5 May 2024 08:06

The Turkish FM underscores Turkey's stance on Palestine during his address at the 15th Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in The Gambia.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan during his visit to Moscow on September 2023. (AP)

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, addressing the 15th summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in The Gambia on Saturday, stated that Ankara perceives the growing acknowledgment of Palestine by additional nations as detrimental to "Israel", asserting readiness to employ all possible means to apply pressure on the Israeli entity.

"Our people expect concrete results from this summit. Recognition of Palestine by even more states will deal a significant blow to Israel. In addition, we must make every effort to ensure full membership of Palestine in the United Nations," Fidan stressed.

Fidan emphasized that Turkey would employ all diplomatic channels to ensure "Israel" faces consequences, highlighting Ankara's decision on May 1 to support South Africa's legal action against "Israel" at the International Criminal Court.

In this context, Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc urged, on Saturday, the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan to complete the investigation into crimes committed by "Israel" in Gaza.

"The failure of [Karim Khan], the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), to complete the investigation and file a lawsuit against crimes against humanity committed in Palestine causes the tragedy in Gaza to escalate and the massacre of children to continue," Tunc posted on X.

"The delay in the case encourages Israeli attackers, eliminates credibility of International Law, and neutralizes the ICC," he stressed.

"If not, when will the action be taken in the attacks in which 37.000 civilians, including 15.000 children, were killed, 77.000 innocent people were injured, millions of people were exposed to famine and drought, the hospitals, places of worship, schools and refugee camps were bombed?," Tunc added highlighting the importance of taking action.

Tunc also emphasized that remaining silent about the massacre "will mean being an accomplice to the crime committed," then added that the reason why the ICC was formed to begin with is to prevent genocide.

Turkey: Trade will remain halted until permanent ceasefire is achieved

After announcing that Turkey will halt trade with "Israel" on May 2, despite it being worth approximately $7 billion per year, Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat announced last Friday, during a conference set to reveal April trade figures, that the trade halt will remain until a permanent ceasefire and humanitarian aid are secured in the Gaza Strip.

Bolat emphasized, "We decided to stop exports and imports to and from Israel until a permanent ceasefire is achieved (in Gaza) and humanitarian aid is allowed without interruption."

The Trade Minister further stressed that "Israel's" attitude, which he described as "uncompromising", coupled with the worsening situation in Gaza's southern Rafah region, had prompted Ankara to take the decision to halt trade with Tel Aviv.

Bolat further underscored that Turkey continues its negotiations "with our Palestinian brothers on alternative arrangements to ensure that they are not affected by this decision."