UPDATE - Türkiye using all its diplomatic means to secure cease-fire in Israel-Palestine conflict: President Erdogan

UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS FROM TURKISH PRESIDENT RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN, EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Muhammed Enes Calli

ISTANBUL (AA) - Türkiye is using all the diplomatic means at its disposal to secure a cease-fire in the Israel-Palestine conflict, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday.

On Türkiye’s priorities at this weekend’s extraordinary Organization of Islamic Cooperation summit, Erdogan said the summit’s main theme will be the conflict between Israel and Palestine.

"We will gather to discuss the topic in detail and negotiate to ensure an immediate humanitarian cease-fire. We will focus on the questions: What can each country participating here do? What can the Gulf countries do?" he told journalists on his return flight from an Economic Cooperation Organization summit in Uzbekistan, Tashkent.

"Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, we will discuss in detail what each of us can do."

Decisions coming from the summit in the Saudi capital Riyadh will be steps to stop Israel’s atrocities, he said.

"Islamic countries’ sensitivity to the Palestinian cause is well-known, and there is much we can do both to achieve a cease-fire and for a lasting peace. We must take our steps firmly, effectively, and in a manner that serves peace," he added.

"Unplanned and poorly strategized actions harm the Palestinian cause. Therefore, we will express our reaction to the ongoing massacres and discuss which areas can be opened for peace."

The aim is to push Israel to allow the passage of wounded and sick people in Gaza through a humanitarian corridor where medical service can be provided, he added.

"Human rights and international law demand an immediate cessation of this dirty war," he said.

He said Israel should not place itself outside international law, adding that everybody should oppose such recklessness.

Without resolving the Israel issue, there can be no talk of peace in the region or world, and no comprehensive international legal order can be fully realized, Erdogan added.

- US policy on Israel-Palestine conflict

Criticizing the US policy on the Israel-Palestine conflict, Erdogan said people in many countries are protesting the US, citing in particular the Oct. 28 Great Palestine Rally in Istanbul, which drew some 1.5 million people.

Supporting Israel's massacres in Gaza has made the US a target of criticism, he said.

"Türkiye shares our thoughts and solution formulas with everyone. We want this problem to be resolved once and for all," he stressed.

Erdogan said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a mistake near the beginning of the conflict by starting a visit to Israel by saying he came not only as a US official, but also as a Jew.

"If you are sincere about a cease-fire, put pressure on Israel to implement UN resolutions," Erdogan urged Western countries.

- Roots of killing Palestinians date back to late 1940s

The Turkish president stressed that Israel did not recently start killing Palestinians, but that the roots of his attacks date back to 1947, a year before the state of Israel was declared.

"If Israel continues this oppression, barbarism, it means that all world leaders need to think about something. We have boldly shown our stance from the beginning, and we continue to do so," Erdogan stressed.

"If I shouted to the whole world in the UN General Assembly, comparing the map of 1947 to today's map, there’s a reason for that. I’m making a point. These massacres started in 1947."

Highlighting that all Western countries, especially the US, have been behind Israel's attacks from the beginning, Erdogan added: "If (UN Secretary-General Antonio) Guterres made a commendable statement, and he did, there are some reasons for it. He saw the right and the truth … he stands by justice."

- Türkiye willing to take any risk, help resolve hostage crisis

Erdogan said if Türkiye intervenes to solve the hostage crisis, Israel should swiftly release Palestinians, and on the other hand, Hamas should release Israelis as well.

Hamas has expressed a willingness to release civilians, Erdogan said.

There are also high-ranking officers among hostages held by Hamas, said Erdogan, adding that Israel made minors prisoners.

"If positive steps are taken, we are willing to take any risk and contribute to the resolution of this issue. In the last month, Israel has arrested nearly 2,000 people in the West Bank."

"Before that, there are around 10,000 people thrown into prisons, including women and children. Hamas primarily demands the release of Palestinians arrested by Israel in the West Bank and Gaza, especially women and children."

Israel has launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas on Oct. 7.

At least 10,812 Palestinians have been killed, including 4,412 children and 2,918 women. The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is nearly 1,600, according to official figures.