UPDATE - Israel brought to West Bank ‘systematic brutality’ being carried out in Gaza: Turkish foreign minister

UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS BY TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER

By Gozde Bayar

Israel has brought to the West Bank “systematic brutality” carried out in Gaza, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Friday.

“Israel is not only committing genocide in Gaza, but it is now extending this war to the West Bank, Lebanon, and potentially other nations it deems as enemies which we cannot know or predict,” Fidan said at a joint press conference with his Slovenian counterpart in Ljubljana.

Fidan said Israel has been carrying out occupation, oppression, cruelty, and massacre in the region, and called on the international community to stop Israeli crimes being committed in the Palestinian territories.

Since Oct. 7, a "genocide" has been taking place in Gaza, and Israel has systematically left the people in Gaza hungry and thirsty.

Israel has trampled on all human values ​​by bombing hospitals, mosques, schools, and churches, he added.

"The Netanyahu government continues to play with fire. It is endangering the future of the entire region to maintain its position. Everyone who remains silent on the Gaza issue, especially those who support Israel unconditionally, is under a burden. Israel's barbarity must finally come to an end,” he added.

The minister also called on the international community to use all available diplomatic pressure mechanisms to stop the conflict. He highlighted that while some countries, including Türkiye, have taken strong economic, commercial, and political stances, a broader and more effective pressure mechanism is necessary.

"Just as we are against the occupation of Ukraine's lands, we are also against the occupation of Palestinian territories by Israel," he said, urging the global community to act decisively.

He reiterated Türkiye’s longstanding position that the only path to lasting peace is the establishment of an independent, sovereign Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

"Our efforts to achieve this will continue unabated together with all conscientious countries," he added.

Fidan also congratulated Slovenia on its presidency of the UN Security Council (UNSC) and praised the country's principled stance, notably its decision to recognize Palestine as a state in June.

"I believe that we can increase our joint efforts with countries that embrace international law to implement a just and permanent solution in Palestine," Fidan said.

- Ties with Slovenia

On further advancing relations with Slovenia, Fidan said: “ As an indication of this determination, we have just prepared and signed an action plan for the 2024-2026 period. In this way, we will have the opportunity to develop our relations in every field with concrete and planned steps.”

Praising the increasing trade volume between the countries, Fidan expressed his satisfaction with the participation of Turkish companies in major projects in Slovenia.

Fidan said transportation plays an important role in trade so Türkiye is in favor of full liberalization in land transportation transit documents.

Full liberalization would contribute to the strengthening of trade connections between Europe and Asia, he added.

Israel has continued its brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip following an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas last Oct. 7, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire.

The onslaught has resulted in over 40,600 Palestinian deaths, mostly women and children, and over 93,800 injuries, according to local health authorities.

An ongoing blockade of Gaza has led to severe shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, leaving much of the region in ruins.

Israel faces accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which has ordered a halt to military operations in the southern city of Rafah, where over one million Palestinians had sought refuge before the area was invaded on May 6.