ANKARA, Nov 4 - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has voiced his firm stance on Gaza, expressing his support for the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state once the Israel-Hamas conflict is resolved. Erdogan made these remarks ahead of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Ankara to discuss the situation in Gaza.

Turkey, which has been outspoken in its criticism of Israel, has called for an immediate ceasefire and has offered to facilitate a mechanism to guarantee it. Erdogan emphasized Turkey's commitment to a two-state solution and its hosting of members of Hamas, which it does not consider a terrorist organization like the United States and other Western nations do.

"We want to see Gaza as a peaceful region that is part of an independent Palestinian state, in accordance with the 1967 borders, with territorial integrity, and East Jerusalem as its capital," Erdogan stated on Saturday, according to Haberturk and other sources.

Erdogan stressed that Turkey would support initiatives that bring peace and stability to the region, and would not support any plans that further marginalize the Palestinian people or erase them from history. He revealed that his intelligence chief was in contact with Israeli and Palestinian authorities, as well as Hamas. However, he no longer considers Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a counterpart, although Turkey does not seek to sever ties with Israel.

In the lead-up to Blinken's visit, hundreds of protesters gathered in Ankara and Istanbul to express their dissatisfaction with the United States and Israel. They held posters and chanted slogans condemning the violence in Gaza. Ankara responded to the escalating tensions by recalling its ambassador to Israel for consultations.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry criticized Turkey's decision to recall its ambassador, stating that it was "another step to side with terrorist organization Hamas." This move comes after Turkey had been working towards improving bilateral relations with Israel prior to the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Erdogan also announced that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi would visit Turkey at the end of November. Additionally, he revealed his attendance at an upcoming Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Riyadh, where a ceasefire in Gaza will be discussed. Erdogan emphasized Turkey's support for initiatives that hold Israel accountable for alleged war crimes and human rights violations, warning that failure to do so would undermine trust in the global system.

As tensions continue to escalate and international efforts intensify to address the Israel-Hamas conflict, Erdogan reaffirmed Turkey's commitment to supporting the Palestinian cause and pushing for a lasting solution that recognizes the rights and aspirations of the Palestinian people.

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