Turkiye rejects cooperation with 'Israel' within NATO: Erdogan
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During a press conference following the NATO summit, the Turkish president emphasized that "Israel," which he accuses of violating the fundamental values of the alliance, should not continue its partnership with NATO.
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Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan attends the meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council on the margins of the NATO Summit in Washington, D.C. on July 11, 2024. (@trpresidency/X)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated on Friday, during a press conference in Washington after the NATO leaders' summit, that efforts to collaborate with "Israel" within NATO are "not acceptable."
"It is not possible for the Israeli administration, which has trampled on the fundamental values of our alliance, to continue its partnership relationship with NATO," he stressed.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Turkish president highlighted the ongoing Israeli "atrocities" in the occupied Palestinian territories, especially in Gaza.
'Israel' threatens the entire region
The Turkish president warned that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration, "with its expansionist and reckless policies," threatens the security of not only its own people but also the entire region.
"Until a comprehensive, sustainable peace is established in Palestine, attempts at cooperation with Israel within NATO will not be approved by Türkiye," Erdogan stressed.
He emphasized the importance of responsible members of the international community working together to achieve a "two-state" solution between "Israel" and Palestine based on the 1967 borders.
"Likewise, despite all the pressure and intimidation attempts, we are very pleased that the number of countries recognizing Palestine is increasing," the Turkish president said.
He also called on other countries to file complaints against "Israel" at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Erdogan stated that Turkiye is prepared to take any initiative, including acting as a guarantor, first to declare a cease-fire and then to establish permanent peace in Gaza.
"I hereby call on all our allies to increase their pressure on the Netanyahu administration to ensure a cease-fire and the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, who have been starving for nine months," Erdogan stressed.
Sanchez: West must avoid double standards in Gaza
It is worth noting that Erdogan's statement came after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called on Thursday, during the NATO summit, for the West to avoid "double standards" in addressing the Israeli war on Gaza.
He stressed, "If we are telling our people that we are supporting Ukraine because we are defending the international law, this is the same as what we have to do towards Gaza."
The socialist leader advocated for a consistent political stance without double standards, urging international efforts to stop this "terrible humanitarian crisis in Gaza," and proposed an international peace conference to advance Palestinian statehood.
This comes as the Israeli genocide in Gaza continues live and unabated, killing over 38,345 Palestinians, most of whom are women and children.
