Turkey will resist any provocation in the Middle East, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Thursday, as regional tensions escalate following recent exchanges between the U.S., Israel, and Iran. The statement comes amid growing international concern over a potential wider conflict.
Speaking at a joint press conference with his Bangladeshi counterpart, Khalilur Rahman, Fidan affirmed that Turkey does not want to be drawn into what he called an “unjust war.” “Turkey will resist all kinds of provocation. The determination of our President [Recep Tayyip Erdoğan] on this matter is certain. We absolutely do not want to be dragged into this ongoing unjust war. We have full determination not to fall for provocations,” Fidan stated.
Fidan criticized what he described as expansionist policies and a fundamentalist ideology emanating from the current Israeli government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, asserting these have contributed to the region’s instability. “We have consistently drawn attention to the chaos caused in our region by the expansionist policies and fundamentalist ideology of the Netanyahu government,” he said. “We see not possible for us to turn a blind eye to Israel’s attempts to impose its geopolitical calculations on the region through external interventions.”
The Turkish Foreign Minister also highlighted ongoing violations of ceasefires in Gaza and the worsening humanitarian situation. He stressed the urgent need for uninterrupted humanitarian aid and the provision of basic necessities, including shelter, for Gazans.
Fidan expressed concern over steps taken by Israel in the West Bank, which he said were intended to create a fait accompli that would undermine the two-state solution. “Settlers are martyring our Palestinian brothers every day in the West Bank,” he said. He also warned that closing the Al-Aqsa Mosque to worship is “an extremely dangerous step that could trigger a new upheaval in our region,” calling for respect for the holy site.
He further voiced apprehension that Netanyahu is seeking to use conflict with Hezbollah as a pretext for a “new genocide,” and called on the international community to take action against what he described as Israeli crimes.
Regarding the recent exchange of attacks between the U.S., Israel, and Iran, Fidan reiterated Turkey’s commitment to de-escalation. He noted Turkey possesses significant deterrent and military capabilities, but emphasized the need for diplomacy to prevail. “We always have ideas about when and where to use this power, thinking strategically and wisely, but diplomacy must work now in this war,” he said.
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