Leaders at Antalya Forum urge truce, renew push for Palestinian statehood

Antalya Diplomacy Forum spotlights Palestine crisis as Türkiye and global leaders call for urgent ceasefire, end to Israeli aggression, and lasting two-state solution amid rising global tensions

ANKARA, Türkiye (MNTV) – The Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF) opened on Friday in the southern Turkish city of Antalya, drawing global attention as leaders, diplomats, and experts gathered to confront some of the world’s most pressing crises.

This year’s forum, held under the patronage of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and hosted by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, is convening under the main theme “Reclaiming Diplomacy in a Fragmented World.”

The three-day summit this year has particular focus on the situation in Palestine, especially Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, which several leaders have denounced as “genocidal.”

Over 20 heads of state and government, more than 50 foreign ministers, 70 government ministers, 60 senior representatives of international organisations, and over 4,000 guests, including students and policy experts, are participating.

In his opening remarks, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan underscored Türkiye’s critical role as both a regional actor and a global mediator.

“Türkiye is a country at the very heart of crises and at the centre of tensions – but also at the core of solutions,” Fidan said, urging renewed commitment to diplomacy to address global inequalities, conflicts, and instability.

A significant focus on Gaza framed the initial sessions.

Fidan chaired a meeting of the Gaza Contact Group held on the sidelines of the forum, attended by foreign ministers from Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, and Indonesia, as well as the secretaries-general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League.

Senior representatives from the United Arab Emirates, China, Russia, Ireland, Spain, Norway, Slovenia, Nigeria, and the European Union also participated.

Fidan said discussions revolved around the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, immediate efforts to establish a permanent ceasefire, and the developments in the occupied Palestinian territories.

He stressed growing international concerns over Israel’s intensified aggression, warning that continued violence would further destabilize the region and erode global legal norms.

“A lasting ceasefire must be established as soon as possible. We support the ceasefire initiative led by Qatar, Egypt, and the US,” Fidan said.

He reiterated Türkiye’s full backing for the Arab League-endorsed Gaza reconstruction plan and reaffirmed the call for a sovereign Palestinian state along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Fidan warned that forcing Palestinians to abandon their homeland would amount to a violation of international law.

“We reject any plan that forces Palestinians to abandon their homeland. Israel’s aggressive stance leads to instability on a regional level and lawlessness on a global scale,” he stated.

The Turkish foreign minister further stressed that the oppression faced by Palestinians undermines universal values and that Palestinians, despite decades of violence and displacement, have not relinquished their right to their homeland.

“The violence Israel has inflicted on Palestinians for the past 80 years has failed. Palestinians have not abandoned their homeland or their cause,” Fidan said, expressing confidence that Palestinians would one day live in peace and security in their own state.

Saudi Arabia opposes Trump plan

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan echoed the position, delivering a strong statement against any forced displacement of Palestinians.

Addressing a press conference after the Contact Group meeting, Prince Faisal categorically rejected any attempts to frame the forced migration of Palestinians as “voluntary.”

“We categorically reject the displacement of the Palestinian people from Gaza under any slogan,” he said, adding, “The talk of voluntary migration cannot be accepted when Palestinians are deprived of the most basic necessities of life.”

He called for an immediate ceasefire and stressed the urgent need to allow humanitarian aid to reach Gaza without obstruction.

The Saudi minister’s remarks came against the backdrop of reports that U.S. President Donald Trump had proposed the relocation of 2.1 million Palestinians from Gaza and transforming the besieged enclave into a “Riviera.”

Later on Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed the forum, delivering a powerful speech condemning Israel’s actions.

Erdoğan accused Israel of carrying out a “genocide” against Palestinians for the past one-and-a-half years, urging the United Nations Security Council and the broader international community to intervene immediately to halt the bloodshed.

“No one can tarnish the heroic struggle of the Palestinian people against occupation by labelling it as ‘terrorism’,” Erdoğan said, adding that Türkiye would continue to advocate for Palestinian rights at every available platform.

Erdoğan also took the opportunity to highlight Türkiye’s strategic relationship with the United States.

Expressing optimism about the future of bilateral ties during President Trump’s second term, he stated: “I believe that our relations with the US will flourish in every field during President Trump’s second term, also with the contribution of our close friendship with him.”

He reaffirmed Türkiye’s ambition to expand its trade relationship with Washington, noting the ambitious goal of reaching a $100 billion bilateral trade volume.

The Antalya Diplomacy Forum will continue throughout the weekend with more high-level sessions, bilateral meetings, and press briefings.

As divisions across the world deepen and crises multiply, Türkiye’s message from Antalya is clear: diplomacy must reclaim its central role in forging solutions for a more stable, just, and peaceful world.