UPDATE - President Erdogan urges full implementation of Monday's agreement aimed at ensuring Syria's unity

UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS BY PRESIDENT ERDOGAN

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday called for the full implementation of Monday’s agreement aimed at ensuring Syria’s unity, adding that “the winners" will be Syrians.

Türkiye considers every effort aimed at clearing Syria of terrorism as a step taken in the right direction, Erdogan said at an Iftar event at the presidential complex in Ankara.

On Gaza, Erdogan said that Ankara’s eternal brotherhood with Palestine cannot be hindered, adding that the country will continue to stand by the Palestinian people.

Stating that Israel’s massacres in Gaza over the past 471 days have been etched into human history as “a stain of shame,” Erdogan reiterated that it is “impossible” to talk about a just and lasting solution without establishing free Palestine, based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

He urged the global community, especially Islamic countries, to take active responsibility for the "reconstruction and revitalization of Gaza."

The Turkish leader stated that as a result of the attacks by the genocide network, over 61,000 people, mostly women and children, and more than 200 journalists were killed.

He also noted that more than 330 healthcare workers, who should never be harmed even during war, were deliberately killed.

"A sadistic pleasure is taken from murdering babies whose mouths still smell of milk, innocent children whose mothers can never get enough of kissing them. At times with anger and sometimes with embarrassment, we, like the whole world, were subjected to this madness for 471 days,” he said.

"As the Turkish nation, our vigil for Jerusalem and Palestine continues. With this spirit, we have never left, and we will never leave, our brothers and sisters in Gaza alone in the face of the Zionist regime's 471-day-long occupation and genocide policy,” he added.

Welcoming the plan adopted at the Emergency Gaza Summit held in Cairo regarding the future of Gaza, the president said it’s “very valuable,” expressing hope for the continuation of the agreement reached on Jan. 19.

"Despite those who try to ingratiate themselves with the Zionist regime, who slander the Palestinian resistance as a 'terrorist organization,' and those who always start their sentences with 'however,' we have always stood by the heroic children of Gaza,” he added.

However, the Netanyahu government’s attempts to undermine the ceasefire have been increasing since day one. We know very well what the current government, which has made Zionist expansionism a state policy, is trying to do. We will not allow new plans based on the 'divide, conquer, rule' tactic to be implemented in our region. I would like to emphasize again by highlighting this point: Any project aimed at exiling Palestinians from their lands and causing a second Nakba disaster for the Palestinian people is unacceptable. The deed to Palestine is in the hands of our Palestinian brothers and sisters,” he further said.

On Monday, the Syrian Presidency announced the signing of an agreement between Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Ferhad Abdi Sahin, stressing the unity of Syrian territory and rejecting division.

"We want peace, tranquility, and prosperity not only in Gaza and the West Bank, but throughout our entire region. We envision a region where different beliefs, sects, and ethnic groups live side by side,” he said.

The agreement envisions the integration of Syrian Arab Republic institutions and affirms territorial unity while rejecting any form of division, said the presidency on X.

It highlighted that "the participation and representation of Syrians in political processes and state institutions based on merit, regardless of their religious and ethnic backgrounds, is guaranteed."

It also underlined that "the Kurdish community is an integral component of the Syrian state, and the Syrian state guarantees citizenship rights and all constitutional rights."