UPDATE - Turkish National Security Council calls for urgent action from global community on Gaza

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By Efe Ozkan and Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) – The Turkish National Security Council on Tuesday urged the global community to take urgent action on Gaza and turn the will expressed within the UN into concrete steps against Israel's ongoing attacks in a statement issued by Türkiye's Communications Directorate.

Türkiye will continue to contribute to every positive step towards establishing a just and lasting peace in Gaza, the council said in a statement after its meeting in the capital Ankara.

"Holding them to account is the shared responsibility of humanity," said the council, pointing to Israel's policies and the way they have caused a humanitarian disaster in Gaza.

The council also stressed support for a two-state solution on the Cyprus issue, based on the sovereign equality and equal international status of the island’s Turkish Cypriots.

"The current situation concerning the Russia-Ukraine war was assessed; concerns were expressed regarding incidents indicating the risk of the war’s escalation, and it was stated that Türkiye is ready to assume greater responsibility for the establishment of peace," said the statement.

"The normalisation process with Armenia was discussed; the importance of the transportation line, which will enable unimpeded access between Azerbaijan and (its exclave) Nakhchivan and yield results serving the interests of all countries in the region, as well as our will for the establishment of final peace, were underlined," it said.

The statement also said the meeting addressed developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina, reaffirming its support for the country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and constitutional order.

"Actors and issues posing threats to Syria’s territorial integrity, unity and sovereignty, as well as to Iraq’s security, stability and prosperity, were evaluated," it said, vowing that any form of terrorism and expansionism through terrorism would not be tolerated in Türkiye’s region.​​​​​​​