Türkiye rejects Trump’s plan to take over Gaza, says FM Fidan

Türkiye will not accept U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to take over Gaza and forcibly displace Palestinians, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said in an interview with Al Jazeera.

Fidan dismissed the idea as unrealistic and emphasized that only two countries—Israel and the United States—would support such a proposal. “There would probably be only two countries in the world that advocate this: America and Israel. The rest of the world is against it,” he said.

Türkiye’s firm stance on Gaza

Fidan reiterated Türkiye’s long-standing position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, calling for a two-state solution and criticizing Israeli policies in the region.

He accused the Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, of pursuing expansionist policies rather than seeking a sustainable resolution.

“As Muslim and Arab countries, we tell Israel: ‘Accept the two-state solution. Make peace with Arab and other Muslim countries,’” he said. However, Fidan argued that instead of granting Palestinians statehood, Israel has been annexing more land and planning further occupations beyond Palestinian territories.

“You cannot continue this forever. Right now, America is assisting you in this wrong policy, but it is not a sustainable policy,” he warned, urging Israel to consider a peace-oriented alternative.

Concerns over regional instability

The foreign minister also addressed broader regional concerns, emphasizing that Türkiye has not engaged with Israel regarding potential security arrangements in Syria.

He highlighted the importance of Syria’s territorial integrity, condemning both the PKK’s presence and Israeli interventions in the region.

“The Syrian people, as they have done throughout history, will not allow any occupation—be it by the PKK or Israel,” Fidan said. He emphasized that millions of Syrians have been displaced, and hundreds of thousands have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict.

Hamas and future of Gaza

Regarding Hamas’ role in Gaza’s future, Fidan stated that the group is more than just an organization—it represents an ideology born out of occupation and oppression.

“Hamas is a resistance movement. Due to the occupation, they have found themselves in armed struggle. Now, if the Palestinian Authority or another body takes over governance in Gaza, many believe Hamas will remain a significant political force,” he said.

He argued that the root cause of the crisis is Israel’s occupation, stating that simply removing Hamas would not resolve the issue. “If occupation, humiliation, and oppression continue, removing Hamas will only lead to another, perhaps even more militant, organization taking its place.”

Türkiye’s call for international action

Fidan urged Arab nations, particularly Egypt, Jordan, and the Gulf states, to take a stronger stance against Israel’s military actions in Gaza. “They must develop a position against Israel. These policies are not tolerable,” he said.

He described Trump’s reported plan to take over Gaza as an “intellectual failure” and stressed that Arab countries are already working on an alternative proposal to reconstruct and govern Gaza.

“Türkiye’s stance on this matter is clear. This plan should not even be taken seriously,” Fidan stated.

Implications for global politics

Fidan also touched upon the broader geopolitical landscape, including Türkiye’s role in mediating the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

He noted that signs of a cease-fire were emerging and that discussions between the U.S. and Russia were ongoing.

“There are discussions on the terms of a cease-fire,” he said, pointing out that both Washington and Moscow are preparing to appoint representatives for negotiations.

“By summer, we should see concrete steps toward stopping the Ukraine war,” he said.

“The security framework that Europe built with the U.S. is now in question,” he added, suggesting that some European nations might seek alternative security structures outside NATO.

Remarks on Türkiye’s European Union membership

On Türkiye’s European Union membership, he reaffirmed that Türkiye still officially aims to join the EU but criticized European reluctance. “The European perspective on Türkiye remains unchanged, despite shifting global dynamics,” he said.

“Will they reconsider under new global conditions? We hope so,” he said. Türkiye’s journey toward EU membership began nearly 60 years ago with the signing of the Ankara Agreement.

Fidan lastly commented on Sudan, calling the ongoing conflict a “tragic situation” for the Muslim world.

He highlighted Türkiye’s humanitarian efforts in the region and urged the Islamic world to take the crisis more seriously.

Stressing Ankara’s commitment to constructive foreign policy, Fidan concluded: “As long as President (Recep Tayyip) Erdogan and we are in office, we will continue to believe that our policies bring peace to our region and the world.”