Image credits: Anadolu Ajansı
Türkiye has intensified its call for global accountability regarding the ongoing violence in Gaza, urging that the perpetrators of the atrocities be brought to justice. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, speaking at a press conference in Istanbul on Friday alongside Montenegro’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ervin Ibrahimovic, underscored the necessity of international pressure on Israel to facilitate humanitarian aid into Gaza and prevent further suffering of the Palestinian people.
Fidan expressed Turkey’s strong support for the genocide case that South Africa has initiated against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). He emphasized that Türkiye is actively involved in the legal process, with a delegation submitting a 43-page declaration to the ICJ detailing Israel’s attacks on Gaza and justifying Türkiye’s intervention in the case. Fidan states, “The region cannot endure more tensions, conflicts, or wars. Israel must be stopped.”
Fidan’s remarks were also directed toward countries that unconditionally support Israel, accusing them of being complicit in the Gaza massacres. He asserted that achieving peace and stability in the Middle East requires a halt to Israel’s aggressive actions. Fidan stated that unconditional support for Israel makes those nations complicit in the Gaza massacre, calling for prompt action.
The ICJ, established in 1945 as the UN’s highest legal authority to handle disputes between states, previously ruled in July that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories violates international law. The court also ordered Israel to halt its military operations in Gaza and ensure the unhindered provision of humanitarian aid, a directive that Israel has largely ignored.
Israel has consistently dismissed the court’s rulings, arguing that its military actions are acts of self-defence against Hamas. The genocide case, which could take years to conclude, has drawn interest from multiple countries, including Nicaragua, Colombia, Libya, Mexico, Spain, and Palestinian officials, all seeking to join the case.
Turkey’s relationship with Israel has been turbulent, especially since President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan took office in 2003. The ongoing war in Gaza has once again strained efforts to normalize relations between the two nations.