Gaza must remain Palestinian, Palestinians must govern Gaza: Erdogan
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Erdogan says Turkey is guiding Hamas on "the best approach" toward establishing a Palestinian state as part of ongoing US-backed efforts to end the war on Gaza.
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends a climate summit, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, at UN headquarters.` (AP)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that Ankara is actively mediating between the United States and Hamas as part of a larger diplomatic effort to end the ongoing war on Gaza, even as he signaled optimism about a new chapter in relations with Washington following his recent talks with US President Donald Trump.
Gaza mediation
Speaking to reporters aboard his flight from Azerbaijan, Erdogan said Türkiye is conveying to Hamas "the best approach" for the future of a Palestinian state, in accordance with a proposal presented by Washington. He confirmed that Turkish officials are participating in negotiations in Egypt, stressing Ankara’s support for Trump’s "peace" initiative and its commitment to regional stability.
"President Trump asked us to convince Hamas to accept the proposal," Erdogan told journalists. He underlined that any political arrangement for Gaza must guarantee that "Gaza remains part of a Palestinian state and that it is governed by Palestinians." Erdogan added that discussions regarding foreign troop deployments and security guarantees in Gaza must be handled carefully, stressing that Türkiye is prepared to contribute to all peace efforts once the war ends.
The remarks came as Hamas confirmed it had officially responded to Trump’s 20-point ceasefire plan, which includes a prisoner exchange and the handover of Gaza’s administration to a Palestinian technocratic authority supported by Arab and Islamic nations. The group said it welcomed efforts "aimed at halting the war on Gaza" but insisted that long-term decisions about Palestinian sovereignty require national consensus and UN guarantees.
Trump, however, adopted a harsher tone in the days following Hamas’ response, warning of "complete obliteration" if the group refuses to relinquish power in Gaza. While the US president claims that his plan offers "a final opportunity" for peace, analysts and rights advocates have criticized the proposal as coercive diplomacy aimed at reshaping Gaza under US and Israeli oversight.
Read more: Factions mark second anniversary of Al-Aqsa Flood, reject disarmament
Diplomatic recalibration
Turning to regional issues, Erdogan reaffirmed Türkiye’s position on Syria, declaring that the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) must "keep its promises and integrate" into the Syrian state. "Our patient, prudent, dignified stance should not be considered as a weakness," he said, reiterating Ankara’s opposition to any autonomous Kurdish governance near its borders.
Erdogan also discussed US-Türkiye relations, describing his recent visit to the White House as one that "marked a new era in US ties." He expressed optimism that sanctions imposed under the CAATSA law would soon be lifted and that the dispute over Türkiye’s removal from the F-35 fighter jet program would be resolved. "I hope the F-35 issue will be resolved and CAATSA sanctions will be lifted," he said.
On economic matters, Erdogan disclosed that Trump assured him that "the Halkbank problem is finished," referring to the long-standing US legal case against Türkiye’s state-owned bank over alleged violations of Iran sanctions. "There are certain procedures that need to be completed, and we hope they will be done positively," he added.
