Trump must fulfill promises instead of fait accompli, Erdogan tells media

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed key international issues, including the conflict in Gaza and Türkiye’s relations with the United States, during an in-flight discussion with journalists following his official visits to Malaysia, Indonesia and Pakistan.

Erdogan criticizes US approach to Gaza

Erdogan stated that the United States is miscalculating its approach to the region, warning that ignoring the historical and cultural realities of the Middle East would not serve U.S. interests.

He accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of manipulating Washington into deepening the crisis.

Unfortunately, the United States is making a miscalculation regarding our region. It is essential not to ignore the history, values, and accumulated knowledge of this geography.

Pretending that the suffering in this region does not exist will not bring any benefit to the U.S. Ignoring the realities of this land and trusting Zionist lies will only deepen existing wounds. This is the wrong path.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

“Netanyahu, who is still facing ongoing legal proceedings in his own country, is manipulating the U.S. into fueling this crisis. This does not bring peace; on the contrary, it escalates conflicts, increases bloodshed, and spreads suffering,” Erdogan said.

Emphasizing the necessity of a just resolution, Erdogan called on the international community to prioritize human rights and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders.

He also urged former U.S. President Donald Trump to fulfill his pre-election promises by advocating for peace instead of war.

Israel has never valued anything more than its own interests. If we look at history, Israel has even turned against the countries that helped establish its state.

We expect Trump to fulfill the promises he made before the elections. Instead of initiating another war, he should take steps toward building peace. This region does not accept a “Whatever I do is right” mentality.

The situation in Gaza is extremely delicate and complex. What is happening in Gaza has triggered strong reactions in terms of international law and human rights. A just solution must always be prioritized.

The protection of the Palestinian people and the establishment of a fair resolution are of utmost importance to us. Türkiye has always defended Palestinian rights and brought this issue to the forefront on international platforms.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Türkiye’s role in seeking lasting peace

President Erdogan reiterated Türkiye’s commitment to defending Palestinian rights, highlighting the country’s role in brokering cease-fires and advocating for international efforts to end the violence.

“Türkiye’s efforts in securing cease-fires cannot be denied. While these efforts are evident, strategies can be developed to reach a just solution for Gaza and Palestine. However, such steps must be taken under conditions that ensure a fair and acceptable resolution for the Palestinian people. For the genocide in Gaza to end and for lasting peace to be achieved, all countries must cooperate and act with a sense of responsibility,” he noted.

While every form of cooperation and strategy toward peace is welcome, the fundamental priority must be ensuring that the Palestinian people’s rights are protected and that they are granted a dignified life.

However, this process cannot move forward through statements like “Let the apocalypse happen” or by pursuing Netanyahu’s dreams of forcibly expelling Gazans.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

He also condemned any attempt to forcibly displace Gazans, calling it an unacceptable policy that would lead to further instability in the region.

“The forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza is unacceptable. No Muslim country would accept such a plan, as it completely disregards the rights of the Palestinian people. This kind of approach does not contribute to lasting peace; on the contrary, it fuels further conflict,” President Erdogan said.

The international community must prioritize human rights and humanitarian assistance rather than political calculations. The wounds of this region can only be healed by recognizing the 1967 borders and ensuring the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

A genuine peace can only be built on a foundation that acknowledges the rights of both sides and ensures justice and equality.

We will support any strategy aimed at achieving peace based on this foundation.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Concerns over escalation and regional war

President Erdogan warned that forced displacement policies by Israel and the U.S. could indicate a greater massacre ahead, even if a prisoner exchange is completed. However, he noted that global opposition to war could prevent further escalation.

“As long as the world loudly demands ‘peace and brotherhood,’ a regional war will not break out. However, Israel will continue to provoke a regional war, but this will not be in its favor,” Erdogan said.

Accepting this forced displacement is absolutely impossible. This would be nothing less than an act of barbarism. Those with a conscience in global politics, who approach issues with a sense of justice, are all voicing the same concern. As long as the world loudly demands “peace and brotherhood,” a regional war will not break out.

However, Israel will continue to provoke a regional war, but this will not be in its favor.

The administration currently in power in Israel thrives on bloodshed and suffering. We have observed that those who initially rushed to support Israel at the beginning of its latest massacres in Gaza are now beginning to see the truth. One of the most defining characteristics of oppressors is their cowardice. When they face strong resistance, they withdraw. I personally believe that such strong resistance is forming.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

He emphasized that Hamas has adhered to its commitments, while Israel has repeatedly violated cease-fires and continued its attacks.

Citing data from Gaza’s Ministry of Health, he said that 92 Palestinians had been killed in Israeli strikes since the Jan. 19 cease-fire agreement. “According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, since the ceasefire agreement on January 19, Israeli forces have directly attacked Gaza, resulting in the deaths of 92 Palestinians.”

“We know that in the areas from which the Israeli military has withdrawn, Palestinian homes have been demolished and lands have been rendered unusable. While the cease-fire is still in place, we also know that Israeli drones bombed the eastern part of Rafah, killing a Palestinian,” President Erdogan added.

The conscience of societies must unite with the determination of leaders so that these oppressors will have no place to hide. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure this. No one has the power to break our iron will, by Allah’s permission. So far, we have seen that Hamas has honored its commitments and has managed the process responsibly. As always, the untrustworthy party in this matter is the Israeli government.

All of this clearly shows that Israel has no intention of making the ceasefire permanent. Encouraged by the U.S., Israel’s pursuit of an even larger massacre strategy will ultimately lead to its own greater losses.

The images of prisoner exchanges over the past 15 months of intense blockade and bombardment in Gaza show that Hamas remains psychologically strong.

We do not know how much longer the U.S. government will continue to indulge Israel. We will also see how long the American people are willing to bear the cost of Israel’s war, which is a financial black hole for their economy.

The developments after the prisoner exchange must be carefully monitored, and efforts for peace must continue. The situation in Gaza is extremely sensitive, and there is always a risk of escalating tensions. Therefore, it is crucial for both sides to act with restraint and seek peaceful solutions.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

‘Gaza is a wound in our hearts. Gaza is a pain within us’

Answering questions from the journalists Erdogan stated: “We must state this very clearly: Gaza is a wound in our hearts. Gaza is a pain within us. We are working tirelessly to relieve this pain and heal this wound, and we must continue to do so.”

“Unfortunately, the Islamic world has still not taken collective action on this issue. While we hoped that hearts would beat as one, we have not yet achieved this unity. We must address our shortcomings and rid ourselves of our burdens,” he added.

We all saw what happened in Gaza. Just tonight, something caught my attention on television: Qatar is sending construction machinery to Gaza. Most likely, they purchased this equipment from Egypt and are transferring it to Gaza. These machines will likely be used to clear the debris and restore the area—there is no other option.

The same applies to Syria, where there is also a significant need for construction equipment. When we met with Syrian President Ahmad Sharaa, he also requested our help in this regard. Our Foreign Minister and Intelligence Chief confirmed the same situation during their visits.

There is a pressing need for construction equipment to remove the debris, and then we must swiftly move to rebuild and restore both Syria and Gaza.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Stating that despite the cease-fire declaration Israel continues its attacks, President Erdogan added, “The oppressors in these areas show no mercy, regardless of religion, language, or ethnicity. Netanyahu’s recent visit to the United States should tell us something. In the end, religion has always played a divisive role in these conflicts. Despite declarations of a cease-fire, there are still no clear signs of it being implemented. Now, we are entering the fifth phase of this conflict.”

“We are closely monitoring what will happen in this phase. Our hope and expectation are that, at the very least, this cease-fire is enforced properly,” Erdogan said.

Saying that the United Nations must step up, President Erdogan added they are waiting for the outcomes of the U.S. President Donald Trump’s one-and-a-half-hour meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“We are also waiting to see the outcome of this meeting. If a positive result emerges, then the world will have taken a very different step forward.”

Türkiye’s expanding influence in Asia

Reflecting on his visits to Malaysia, Indonesia, and Pakistan, Erdogan said that Türkiye is strengthening its historical ties with Asian nations and increasing economic and diplomatic engagements.

“Türkiye is a reliable country, and we demonstrate this through our businesspeople, whom we take along on these trips. The business meetings and bilateral talks held there naturally produce results,” he said.

The president also highlighted growing interest in Türkiye’s electric vehicle industry, with the leaders of Malaysia, Indonesia, and Pakistan expressing enthusiasm for TOGG, Türkiye’s first domestic electric car.

Discussions on potential partnerships and investments in these countries are ongoing.