Erdogan, Sisi call for Gaza ceasefire, end of aggression on West Bank
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During their meeting in Ankara, the two leaders announced their intention to enhance cooperation between Turkiye and Egypt across various sectors.
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This handout photograph taken and released by the Turkish Presidency Press Office on September 4, 2024, in Ankara shows Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) shaking hands with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi (L) after attending a joint press conference at the Presidential Complex in Ankara. (Handout / TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE / AFP)
"Israel" and its allies are accountable for every death in Gaza resulting from severe shortages of food, water, and medicine, stressed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday.
In a press conference with his visiting Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Ankara, Erdogan said, "The responsibility for every innocent person who dies in Gaza due to starvation, thirst, or lack of medicine lies with Israel and its supporters."
He indicated that the "culprits" behind the death of 41,000 Palestinians in Gaza should face justice rather than stand on congressional podiums.
The Turkish leader said that "Israel" has maintained an "uncompromising, obstructive" approach to ceasefire negotiations with Palestinian groups. He highlighted that the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, head of Hamas' political bureau, and the person with whom "Israel" was negotiating, was indicative of its mentality.
"Preventing Israel from dragging our region into further tension can only be achieved by abandoning ambivalent policies," Erdogan underscored.
Regarding recent statements by Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about Egypt, Erdogan said Ankara rejected the accusations against Cairo. Netanyahu recently criticized Egypt during a speech and claimed that it failed to secure its border with the Gaza Strip, which emboldened the Palestinian Resistance.
Erdogan and El-Sisi called for a ceasefire and greater deliveries of humanitarian aid to the besieged Palestinian population, as well as an end to the Israeli aggression on the West Bank, where Israeli occupation forces have for the last week been carrying out a major military offensive.
Greater international recognition of Palestinian statehood
In the same vein, Turkiye and Egypt issued on Wednesday a joint declaration calling for greater international recognition of Palestinian statehood.
Both nations reaffirmed their unwavering support for ending the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and upheld the Palestinian people's right to establish an independent and sovereign state with the eastern part of occupied al-Quds as its capital, based on the 1967 borders. They also emphasized their commitment to upholding the right to return for all Palestinian refugees.
The declaration called for an urgent and lasting ceasefire, the release of captives and detainees, and the continuous, unimpeded flow of humanitarian and medical aid to the entire Gaza Strip, in response to "Israel's" "flagrant" violations of International Law and International Humanitarian Law, including the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure in Gaza over the past 11 months.
Turkiye and Egypt expressed their readiness to further strengthen coordination and cooperation to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The document also underlined the need for strong solidarity in the reconstruction of Gaza and the urgent establishment of peace in the region to prevent further escalation of tensions.
The declaration expressed deep concern about "Israel's" illegal activities in the West Bank, including the eastern part of al-Quds, and condemned "Israel's" settlement expansions, the provocative rhetoric of illegal settlers, and military attacks on Palestinian cities.
Both countries called on the international community to reinforce the Palestinian National Authority in fulfilling its responsibilities toward the Palestinian people in the West Bank, Gaza, and the eastern part of al-Quds, and to support efforts to counter and eliminate "Israel's" restrictive and illegal policies.
Regional relation
Touching on the situation in Iraq, the declaration underscored the importance of supporting Iraq's sovereignty and stability.
Additionally, the two countries reaffirmed their commitment to a Libyan-led political process under UN facilitation, aimed at preserving Libya's security, stability, territorial integrity, and political unity.
Turkiye and Egypt highlighted the importance of achieving peace, security, and stability in the Horn of Africa, advocating for fostering neighborly relations and respecting each country's territorial integrity and sovereignty in the region. They expressed concern over the ongoing conflict in Sudan, which has caused a devastating humanitarian crisis, welcoming efforts to resolve the crisis peacefully while supporting joint diplomatic initiatives.
On Syria, the document underscored the importance of Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2254, reiterating Ankara and Cairo's commitment to finding a lasting and comprehensive solution to the conflict there.
Turkiye, Egypt commit to strengthened cooperation
During their meeting in Ankara, Erdogan and El-Sisi announced their intention to enhance cooperation across various sectors, marking a major step in mending ties between their nations.
"We will strengthen our cooperation in all areas," indicated Erdogan, who visited el-Sisi in Cairo in mid-February when both leaders declared they had turned a "new leaf" in their diplomatic ties.
"My visit to Türkiye paves the way for a new phase in economic and trade relations," el-Sisi said.
He confirmed that both nations "witnessed an increase in communication between two nations in recent years."
Ankara and Cairo had cut ties in 2013 after el-Sisi, then Defense Minister, deposed President Mohamed Morsi, a close ally of Turkiye and a member of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Despite their past disagreements—Erdogan had previously vowed never to engage with "anyone" like el-Sisi—relations have improved over the past two years, aligning on several key issues, including the Israeli war on Gaza.
On Wednesday, the Turkish presidency confirmed that the leaders signed 17 cooperation agreements.
"We want to improve our cooperation with Egypt in the domain of energy, especially natural gas and nuclear power," Erdogan mentioned.
Despite a decade of strained relations, trade between Turkiye and Egypt has persisted, with Turkiye being Egypt’s fifth-largest trading partner and Egypt being Turkiye's largest partner in Africa.
Erdogan and al-Sisi said on Wednesday they aim to increase their annual commercial exchanges from $10 billion to $15 billion within five years.
Discussions also touched on the potential sale of drones to Egypt, according to the Turkish Presidency.
Additionally, the two leaders discussed Somalia, agreeing on the necessity to "preserve the unity and territorial integrity" of the country. Ankara and Cairo have recently signed military cooperation agreements with Somalia, which is currently in a dispute with the breakaway region of Somaliland over a deal to lease ocean access to Ethiopia.
