President Erdoğan: Israel is Expanding Its Occupation Efforts

Kokcha News Agency— Speaking at the Extraordinary Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League in Qatar, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan criticized Israel for its aggressive policies and expansionist ambitions. Erdoğan stated, “Recently, we have seen some reckless Israeli politicians repeatedly echoing the delusion of a ‘Greater Israel.’ Israel’s efforts to expand its occupation in neighboring countries are concrete manifestations of this goal.”

Erdoğan began his speech by greeting the summit participants and thanking Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, for hosting the event. He expressed condolences to the families of the Palestinian and Qatari victims of Israel’s recent attack on Qatar, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

The President emphasized that since October 7, 2023, Israel has been committing genocide in Gaza, and the OIC and Arab League have held extraordinary summits to address this issue. He noted that these summits have declared to the world that Israel’s increasing aggression poses a serious threat to the region and must be stopped.

Erdoğan accused Israel of targeting not only Palestine but also Lebanon, Yemen, Iran, Syria, and even civilian ships off the coast of Tunisia. He condemned Israel’s recent attack on Qatar, stating that it marks a new level of Israeli recklessness.

The President reaffirmed Turkey’s unwavering support for Qatar, stating, “As Turkey, we stand by our friend, brother, and ally Qatar at all times.” He called on the international community to view this summit as a manifestation of the Islamic world’s unconditional support for Qatar.

Erdoğan described the Netanyahu government’s primary goal as continuing the massacre and genocide in Palestine while destabilizing the entire region. He stated, “We are facing a terrorist mentality that feeds on chaos and blood, embodied in a state that blatantly violates the United Nations Charter and challenges international law.”

The President criticized some Israeli politicians for frequently repeating the “Greater Israel” delusion, noting that Israel’s attempts to expand its occupation in neighboring countries are clear signs of this ambition. He expressed confidence that the Islamic world has the strength and means to thwart Israel’s expansionist goals.

Erdoğan also pointed out that the Netanyahu government’s loss of balance is beginning to create costs for its supporters. He welcomed the recent decision by some countries to recognize the Palestinian state but stressed that these steps must be supported by concrete and strong sanctions against Israel.

The President called for increased diplomatic efforts to impose sanctions on Israel and for the use of international legal mechanisms to hold Israeli officials accountable. He emphasized that Israel will not stop its occupation and destabilization policies without a strong reaction and sanctions.

Erdoğan highlighted the importance of self-sufficiency in certain areas, particularly in defense and development. He expressed Turkey’s readiness to share its capabilities and experiences with its brothers and sisters in the Islamic world.

The President concluded by expressing his hope that the summit and its decisions would lead to additional steps to stop the Israeli threat and that the outcomes of the meeting would be closely followed. He thanked everyone who contributed to the organization of the summit.