Turkey Calls for Muslim World Unity to Stop Israel’s Gaza Occupation Plan

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has urged Muslim nations to unite and build a global resistance against Israel’s plan to occupy Gaza City. He made these remarks during a joint press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on Saturday, following a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

On Friday, both Egypt and Turkey, key regional powers, condemned Israel’s Gaza occupation plan. Ankara described it as a new phase of Israel’s “genocidal and expansionist policies” and called for global action to thwart the plan. Israel, however, has denied these accusations regarding its operations in Gaza.

During the press conference in El Alamein, Fidan revealed that an emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has been called to discuss Israel’s plan. He stated that Israel’s policy is to starve Palestinians, displace them, and permanently occupy Gaza, adding that there is no acceptable excuse for supporting Israel. Israel, rejecting claims of imposing starvation policies, has stated that the war could end if Hamas, the armed group responsible for killing 1,200 people in an October 2023 attack, surrenders. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty described the situation in Gaza as “extremely dangerous,” not only for Palestinians and neighboring countries but for the broader region. He called Israel’s plan “unacceptable” and affirmed Egypt’s full coordination with Turkey on the issue. He also noted that the OIC’s ministerial committee issued a statement on Saturday condemning Israel’s plan. The OIC labeled Israel’s actions as dangerous and unacceptable provocations, a clear violation of international law, and an attempt to perpetuate illegal occupation, which undermines all prospects for peace.

For months, Egypt, Qatar, and the United States have been mediating to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The OIC has called on global powers and the UN Security Council to fulfill their legal and humanitarian responsibilities in addressing the Gaza crisis. The organization also urged immediate steps to halt Israel’s occupation plan and hold Israel accountable for violating international law.