Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza continues unabated, with civilians facing ongoing violence, displacement and deepening shortages of basic necessities due to Israel’s cease-fire violations.
Speaking at a joint news conference with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, Fidan said the conflict is spreading beyond Iran, warning that it has begun to expand into Lebanon and is becoming increasingly complex in Iraq. He stressed that Türkiye is intensifying efforts to help lift the “calamity” affecting the Islamic world.
Fidan also criticized Israel’s assassinations of Iranian officials, calling them illegal acts that violate international law and must come to an end.
He warned that if the Middle East war spreads, it could create a “permanent” refugee crisis, as Israel’s bombardment in Lebanon alone had displaced over a million people.
“If the war… spreads, there is a possibility this will turn into a permanent refugee crisis with refugees seeking shelter outside the borders of their countries,” Fidan said and added:
“This needs to stop as soon as possible.”
He announced that he will begin regional visits starting Wednesday to discuss steps to halt the war, share President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s messages and present Türkiye’s proposals for achieving lasting peace in the region.
Fidan added that he has been in contact with numerous Western and Eastern counterparts to exchange views and assess the situation, emphasizing that the shared goal is a region where all countries live in security and sovereignty, including the establishment of a Palestinian state. He said Türkiye remains committed to working with determination toward a vision of lasting peace, stability and coexistence in the region.
