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Türkiye announced Saturday it will convene an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to address what it described as Israel's plan to fully occupy Gaza, as Turkish and Egyptian officials presented a united front against Israeli policies in the Palestinian territory.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced during a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty in El Alamein, following high-level diplomatic consultations in Cairo.
"As the Chair of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Council of Foreign Ministers, we have decided to call the OIC to a meeting," Fidan told reporters, referring to Israel's Gaza plan.
The Turkish minister delivered sharp criticism of Israeli intentions, stating: "We completely reject (Israel's) intention to fully occupy Gaza; this plan is a new phase of Israel's expansionist and genocidal policy."
The diplomatic meeting underscored growing regional coordination against Israeli actions in Gaza. Egyptian Foreign Minister Abdelatty confirmed that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza dominated discussions with his Turkish counterpart.
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"The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza was the main topic of Foreign Minister Fidan's meeting," Abdelatty said, adding that Egypt and Türkiye were in agreement on condemning the occupation and expansion of control over Gaza.
Fidan emphasized the bilateral commitment to opposing Israeli plans, declaring: "As Türkiye and Egypt, we will continue to stand against such scenarios."
The ministers also announced coordination efforts with Arab countries to secure an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting to address serious developments in Gaza.
Türkiye has emerged as a significant provider of humanitarian assistance to Gaza. Fidan revealed that Türkiye has delivered approximately 102,000 tons of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, thanking Egypt for its cooperation in facilitating these deliveries.
"We have sent approximately 102,000 tons of humanitarian aid for our brothers in Gaza to date. We thank Egypt for its close cooperation in delivering the aid," the Turkish minister said.
Egyptian officials reiterated their call for ending what they described as genocide and ensuring humanitarian aid access to Gaza. Both countries reaffirmed their support for establishing an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders.
The announcement came following Foreign Minister Fidan's official reception by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi in Cairo, as confirmed by the Turkish Foreign Ministry.
The diplomatic engagement reflected broader regional discussions, with plans for additional meetings within both the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League to address Gaza-related issues.
Beyond Gaza, the Turkish and Egyptian ministers addressed other regional crises. They emphasized the importance of Syria's territorial integrity and the necessity of an inclusive internal political solution, while also discussing the need for a political process to ensure Libya's unity and stability.
"No geographical arrangements in the region can be discussed without international legitimacy," Abdelatty said. "We will not allow any party to interfere in the internal affairs of states under the pretext of protecting a particular minority."
The ministers also highlighted their commitment to ending conflicts in Sudan while preserving the country's territorial integrity, and called for Israel to end its occupation of five areas in Lebanon in accordance with U.N. Security Council resolutions.
Looking ahead, the officials announced expectations for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to visit Egypt next year as part of high-level strategic cooperation between the two countries, with a joint working meeting planned for year-end.
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