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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged more countries to recognize Palestinian statehood and called the deaths in Gaza a "genocide" during a high-level U.N. conference on implementing a two-state solution on Monday.
"I congratulate the countries that have decided to recognize the State of Palestine. I hope this step and subsequent initiatives will accelerate the implementation of the two-state solution," Erdogan said at the International Conference on Finding a Solution to the Palestinian Issue in the U.N. General Assembly Hall.
The conference, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, brought together world leaders to discuss pathways toward Palestinian statehood amid ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Erdogan stated that the "massacre in Gaza," which has claimed more than 65,000 lives, continues "with all its intensity."
"No one who puts their hand on their conscience can accept what is happening. Moreover, they cannot remain silent in the face of such genocide," he said.
"The Netanyahu government's goal is to make the establishment of a Palestinian state impossible and to force the Palestinian people to migrate as much as possible," he noted.
The Turkish president called the recent recognition of Palestine by several countries, including some U.N. Security Council members, an "extremely important, historic decision" amid these negative developments.
"The Palestinian cause has now become a global issue. The attendance in this hall is the best proof of this," Erdogan said.
"In Europe, Asia, America and Africa, on the streets, on social media, and in the press, we are witnessing 'Free Palestine' calls more than ever before," he noted.
He highlighted what he called a contradiction, stating that "the Netanyahu government, which governs a community that was sought to be eradicated through the Holocaust, is committing genocide against its neighbors of thousands of years with whom they share the same land, water, air and sea."
Erdogan said standing against this oppression is both a legal duty and a moral responsibility for the international community.
The Turkish president demanded immediate action on multiple fronts.
"Finally, a ceasefire must be declared. The declaration of a ceasefire requires ensuring unimpeded entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and Israel's withdrawal of its forces from Gaza," he said.
"Gaza is an inseparable part of Palestine and belongs to Palestinians. Palestinians themselves will determine how to administer their own lands," Erdogan added.
He also called for Palestine's full U.N. membership, stating, "The time has come."
Erdogan reaffirmed Türkiye's commitment to Palestinian statehood based on the 1967 borders.
"As Türkiye, we will resolutely continue our struggle until a Palestinian state with geographical integrity, based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, comes into being," he said.
The president emphasized the importance of strengthening Palestine's national capacity, increasing financial and technical support, and maintaining the operations of humanitarian aid organizations like UNRWA.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran, and other senior officials accompanied Erdogan at the conference.
Before entering the hall, Erdogan briefly spoke with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
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