ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that the Palestinian issue remains “at the root” of ongoing tensions in the Middle East, stressing that a two-state solution is the only path toward achieving lasting peace in the region.
Speaking at a NATO meeting in Istanbul, Erdogan said that lasting peace cannot be achieved without stopping what he described as Israel’s “ever-increasing land grabs.” He called for efforts toward establishing a two-state solution as the way forward for resolving the conflict.
Erdogan has repeatedly voiced strong criticism of Israel during its war on Gaza and its ongoing military operations in the occupied West Bank, using harsh rhetoric against Israel’s actions.
Tensions between Israel and Turkiye escalated in 2024 after Erdogan warned that Ankara could intervene militarily to stop Israel’s offensive in Gaza, triggering a war of words between the two countries.