Erdogan: The partnership between NATO and Israel cannot continue

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the partnership relationship between NATO and the Israeli administration cannot continue, and that cooperation initiatives between the alliance and Tel Aviv will not receive Ankara’s approval.

Erdogan added during a press conference, on Thursday evening, following his participation in the “NATO-Ukraine Council” session held on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington, DC: “It is not possible for the partnership relationship between NATO and the Israeli administration to continue, which violates the basic values of our alliance.”

He explained that the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with its expansionist and reckless policies, not only endangers the security of its citizens, but also the security of the entire region.

The Turkish President stated that in all his meetings during the NATO summit, he drew attention to the ongoing atrocities in the occupied Palestinian territories, especially in Gaza.

He stressed the need for members of the international community to unite for a two-state solution - Palestinian and Israeli - based on the 1967 borders.

He pointed out that Turkey had submitted a complaint against Israel to the International Court of Justice in The Hague along with South Africa, and called on other countries to file complaints against Israel as well, explaining that the Gaza Strip has witnessed a massacre since October 7, and that about 40,000 innocent people, most of them from Women and children lost their lives as a result of the Israeli war.

He stated that Israel, which is being tried on charges of genocide, continues to ignore the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions and orders of the International Court of Justice.

He stressed that cooperation initiatives between NATO and Israel will not receive Turkey's approval until comprehensive and sustainable peace is achieved in the Palestinian territories.

He added that lasting peace can only be achieved if the Palestinians, who have been suffering from occupation and oppression for decades, are granted the right to have their own independent, sovereign state.

He renewed Turkey's readiness to take any initiative, including a guarantee to declare a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and then establish lasting peace.

Erdogan called on all allies to increase pressure on the Netanyahu administration to ensure a ceasefire and the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, who have been suffering from famine for nine months.

He stressed that Turkey had taken many steps to help the Palestinians since the first day of the Israeli attacks, explaining that Turkey opened the doors of its hospitals to treat the injured, and sent about 40,000 trucks and planes of aid, some to the Egyptian city of Arish and some to the Rafah crossing, pointing to the continuation of this aid.

Erdogan called on other countries to file complaints against Israel as well, stressing the continuation of Türkiye's efforts and campaigns in this regard.