Hakan Fidan: 80 Years of Violence Has Been Ineffective, Palestinians Have Not Abandoned Their Homeland
Hakan Fidan: 80 Years of Violence Has Been Ineffective, Palestinians Have Not Abandoned Their Homeland
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan said, “The 80 years of violence perpetrated by Israel against Palestinians has yielded no results. Palestinians have not abandoned their homeland. We call on Israel to declare a ceasefire immediately and make peace with the Palestinians.”
The “Two-State Solution and Lasting Peace in the Middle East – Antalya Ministerial Meeting,” held within the scope of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan, as well as the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Bahrain, Indonesia, Qatar, Egypt, and Jordan. Speaking at the end of the meeting, Hakan Fidan said, “There was also participation from China, Russia, Ireland, Spain, Norway, Slovenia, and Nigeria. In today’s meetings, we discussed the humanitarian situation in Gaza, efforts to re-establish the ceasefire, and developments in the occupied territories. We also evaluated steps that can be taken within the international community to ensure lasting peace and implement the two-state solution. A permanent ceasefire must be established as soon as possible.”
"80 Years of Violence Has Been Ineffective"
Minister Fidan expressed their support for the ceasefire process, stating: “We support the ceasefire process led by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States. Uninterrupted access for humanitarian aid to Gaza must be ensured immediately. We support the reconstruction of Gaza. The 80 years of violence perpetrated by Israel against Palestinians has yielded no results. Palestinians have not left their homeland. We are confident that they will live in peace and security within their own state. They have not given up on their cause. We call on Israel to declare a ceasefire immediately and make peace with the Palestinians. Meetings on Palestine will continue at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.”
“We Reject the Displacement of Palestinians from Their Homeland”
Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan stated that the meeting was productive, saying: “We gathered with the Gaza Contact Group and international partners. A ceasefire must be reinstated immediately and made permanent. A lasting political solution is needed to protect Gaza. Humanitarian aid must reach civilians. Depriving them and blocking humanitarian aid is using aid as a weapon of war. We support the negotiations. We support the ceasefire steps taken by our friends in Egypt, Qatar, and the United States. We reject the displacement of Palestinians from their homeland. People there cannot meet their needs for electricity, food, and water. Depriving the people of Gaza of basic necessities is a form of forced displacement. We must continue to work on Gaza. Arab and Islamic countries are committed to peace. The security of everyone in the region must be ensured.”
“We Are Ready to Fight for Greater Support”
Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono said: “We reject the displacement of the Palestinian people. We do not accept their being removed from their own land. As a country that supports Gaza’s independence, we must provide support. All countries must be of one mind. This is Indonesia’s position. We are ready to fight for greater support. We have always supported the two-state solution. This forum has been productive in standing in solidarity with everyone.”
“We Want Palestine to Be Recognized as Soon as Possible”
Palestinian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Mustafa said: “We thank everyone for their efforts in supporting the upcoming two-state peace. We must also address the ongoing attacks in the West Bank and Jerusalem, in terms of economic blockade. We want to draw attention to all actions that violate the law. We thank the international community for all steps taken, especially those countries that have explicitly recognized the State of Palestine. We ask the countries that have not yet recognized Palestine to do so as soon as possible.”
“We Are Working with Our Partners”
Mustafa stated that the priority of the meeting was the ceasefire: “This is not only to resolve the dire humanitarian situation, but also to initiate the reconstruction of Gaza and the revival of the political process. As the Palestinian government, we are working with our partners. We hope that these efforts will progress swiftly. There will be a conference on the reconstruction of Gaza hosted by Egypt. Without these efforts, there will be no stability in the region.”
“We Are Working for the Establishment of a Free Palestine”
Mustafa expressed hope that these efforts would yield results: “We are doing everything we can to achieve success. We are also continuing our efforts to unite Gaza and the West Bank. Reform efforts are a national duty for us. We are working for the establishment of a Free Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital. God willing, we will host you in a Free Palestine.”
“The Ceasefire Issue Is Our Primary Concern”
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, who stated that very important issues were discussed during the meeting, said: “The ceasefire issue is our primary concern. Our cooperation with Qatar continues. The release of some Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners would help ensure a period of calm. We are working to implement previously agreed upon terms. A ceasefire agreement was signed on January 19. The Israeli side must adhere to this agreement. It must not evade its responsibilities. We will implement the Gaza reconstruction plan. This plan will also enable early recovery. The Palestinian people will continue to stay in their homeland.”
“We Reject All Forms of Displacement”
Abdelatty said: “Together with our international partners, we categorically reject displacement. There is no legal or moral justification for displacing the Palestinian people from their homeland. Whether called voluntary or not, we reject all forms and modes of displacement. Forcing Palestinians out of their homeland equates to the liquidation of the Palestinian cause. This is exactly what Israel wants. They want to claim, ‘There is land here, but no people.’ It is important to support the stance that Palestinians should remain in their homeland. We must stop Israel’s regular attacks. As has been clearly stated before, this issue is a red line for Egypt and Jordan.”