The resistance against the Israeli occupation is no longer a war between Israel and Palestine but a struggle between oppressors and the oppressed around the world, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Saturday.
Addressing the 15th summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in the Gambian capital, Banjul, Fidan stressed that none of the members had the right to resolve their differences over the "blood of the Palestinians."
Pointing out that Israel has escaped accountability, Fidan said it is the duty of the entire global Muslim community to close ranks to defend Palestinians.
He underlined that Muslim countries must prove their unity and that they could achieve results through diplomatic and, when needed, coercive means.
Fidan called attention to historical divisions among Muslim states and said these must not be repeated to sacrifice the Palestinian cause to regional rivalries.
The only winner in such a situation would be Israel and its supporters, he warned.
Fidan urged all Muslim countries to put pressure on Israel to end its oppression of Palestinians and push for a two-state solution, using all means to do so and show that violating international law comes with consequences.
“It is necessary for us to mobilize all existing and effective tools, all factors of pressure against Israel,” Fidan said, as he pointed to Türkiye’s recent decision to suspend all trade activities with Israel.
Türkiye earlier this week announced it is suspending all trade activities with Israel over its relentless military campaign against Palestinians in Gaza until a permanent cease-fire is secured and Israel allows unhindered humanitarian aid flow to the region.
Israel's "uncompromising attitude" and the worsening situation in Gaza's southern Rafah region – where Israel has threatened to launch a new offensive – prompted Türkiye to halt all exports and imports, Trade Minister Ömer Bolat said on Friday.
The decision, announced late on Thursday, citing the "worsening humanitarian tragedy" in the Palestinian territories, made Türkiye the first of Israel's key trade partners to halt exports and imports over its campaign in Gaza.
Fidan warned Israel’s planned invasion of Rafah would result in an unprecedented catastrophe and stressed that the people of Muslim countries expect concrete results from the summit in Banjul.
He called on OIC members to “make every effort” to secure Palestine’s full membership to the U.N. and said: “The recognition of Palestine by more countries would deal a significant blow to Israel.”
Fidan also touched upon the “unjust isolation” of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), the dire situation of the Turks in Western Thrace, Crimean Tatars and Uyghurs in China and called on all Muslim countries to act in unity regarding these issues.
The 15th summit of the OIC started on Saturday in the West African city.
World leaders from the 57 member countries of the OIC and beyond are in attendance.
Fidan met his counterparts from Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Iran, Morocco and many others on the summit's sidelines. He discussed bilateral cooperation, focusing on the economy, trade and defense.
The summit, taking place through Sunday with the central theme "Enhancing unity and solidarity through dialogue for sustainable development," is addressing global issues, notably the current situation in Palestine and the ongoing Israeli war in the Gaza Strip, which has killed over 34,000 people, mostly women and children.
During the summit, three key documents – a draft Palestinian resolution, a draft Banjul statement, and the draft final document – will be presented to the Council of Foreign Ministers and subsequently to the summit for discussion.
Israel has killed more than 34,600 Palestinians since an Oct. 7, 2023, cross-border attack by Hamas in which some 1,200 Israelis were killed and around 250 hostages taken.
The conflict has pushed 85% of Gaza's population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed.
Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which in January issued an interim ruling that ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.
