Ex-Portuguese Cabinet minister highlights Türkiye’s ‘critical’ role in Gaza war

By Gokhan Celiker

ISTANBUL (AA) - Portugal’s former minister of Europe stressed Friday Türkiye’s “critical” position in the Hamas-Israel war.

“Regarding Gaza City, Türkiye should hold meetings with leading countries in the region, such as Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Iran. Organizing such a meeting would send an extremely important message to the world. I hope this happens,” Bruno Macaes said at the TRT World Forum 2023 in Istanbul.

Macaes described the TRT World Forum 2023 as an “excellent” event and a space for “productive discussions.”

“The forum was a great opportunity for me to return to Türkiye and engage in open and free discussions about both Gaza and new geopolitical issues. It was one of the best forums of the year for me,” he said.

Macaes highlighted ties between Türkiye and Portugal as “very important.”

“The relations have traditionally been very good. Portugal has always supported Türkiye’s EU membership,” he said.

Israel continues to bombard the Gaza Strip from the air and land, imposing a siege and mounting a ground offensive in retaliation for Hamas’s cross-border attack on Oct. 7.

At least 18,787 Palestinians have died and 50,897 injured in the Israeli onslaught, according to Gaza’s health authorities.

Official figures show the Israeli death toll in the Hamas attack at 1,200, while the Palestinian group still holds 135 hostages in Gaza.