UPDATES WITH MORE STATEMENTS BY TURKISH FM HAKAN FIDAN
By Emre Basaran, Gizem Nisa Cebi
ISTANBUL (AA) - Türkiye and other countries of the region do not want others to bring their own conflicts to this geography, the Turkish foreign minister said on Wednesday.
"We, as countries of the region, don't want third parties to bring their own conflicts to this geography," Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said during a press conference alongside his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani in Doha.
"We have been reiterating Israel's moves would cause a regional war. Last week showed such a risk is still here to stay," he said, referring to Iranian drone and missile attack against Israel, which stoked fears of a regional war.
"It is obvious that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to drag the region into a war to ensure his grasp on power," Fidan said.
The top Turkish diplomat said Türkiye is "striving to realize two-state solution," and conducting diplomacy to achieve it.
"We will continue to support the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state with its capital in East Jerusalem, based on the 1967 borders," he added.
Fidan said he also held talks with chairman of Hamas political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, who is based in Qatar. "Hamas officials told me they will abolish the armed wing and continue as a political party when a Palestinian state is established," Fidan said.
He also criticized "Israeli propaganda" for portraying Hamas as a terrorist organization "like Daesh rather than a national resistance movement.”
According to Fidan, this portrayal of Hamas finds favor with "some actors in the West and international public opinion."
He urged countries "with influence over Israel," particularly the US, to unite and urge Israel to stop its actions.
Fidan also addressed ongoing discussions with his Qatari counterpart about further collaborative efforts to address the plight of the Palestinian people.
For his part, Sheikh Mohammed said Qatar has been conducting diplomacy for the Gaza Strip, which has been suffering from Israeli attacks since Oct. 7, 2023 when Hamas killed over 1,200 Israelis during a cross-border incursion. The subsequent Israeli attacks have so far killed over 34,000 Palestinians. "Türkiye's role in solving the crisis is crucial," he added.