The Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation pledged on Saturday to mobilize all resources to achieve an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid to the Strip.
The ministers of the D-8, an alliance of developing nations of Türkiye, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Nigeria, and Indonesia, discussed means to stop all violations committed by Israel against the Palestinian people in Gaza.
“Those who oppose occupation in Ukraine consider resistance to occupation in Palestine a crime,” Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said in a press conference held following the meeting.
He added, “We declare together to the whole world that we are not silent in the face of Israeli oppression in Gaza and we cannot remain silent.”
The Turkish FM said the D-8 will work with all their strength to stop the Israeli occupation and achieve a two-state solution.
“The fundamentalist Netanyahu government continues to play with fire. (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu does not hesitate to endanger the future of everyone in the region, including his own people,” he said.
Fidan then expressed appreciation of the mediation efforts by Egypt and Qatar, indicating that Türkiye has also contributed to diplomacy.
He said that Israel’s continuous rejection of negotiations and its abstention from approving a ceasefire are costing a heavy price.
He asserted that statehood is a natural right for Palestinians, adding that Palestine is recognized as a state by the majority of countries in the world.
But, Fidan said, “because of the US veto, it cannot become a full member of the UN.”
He then expressed “hope for the future” in the bold stance some European countries and the Western public have taken against Israeli actions.
Fidan said the D-8 ministers held their meeting to demonstrate further support and solidarity for Palestine, adding that the war is not a war of Israel-Palestine anymore but “a challenge to global democracy."
The Minister then noted that a just and lasting peace can only be achieved by diplomacy and compromise.
Fidan affirmed that there is no doubt those who perpetrated the massacre in Gaza will eventually be held accountable.
Prior to the D-8 extraordinary meeting on Gaza, Fidan held talks with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa to discuss the latest developments in the Strip.
