President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who addressed journalists on his flight back to Türkiye after attending the World Climate Action Summit at Expo City Dubai held on the sidelines of the ongoing 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, concluded that Israeli officials became the murderers of their forefathers.
President Erdoğan said that Türkiye is expected to achieve its net zero emission target by 2053, adding that the percentage of renewable energy sources in the country's total installed power climbed to 55 per cent, ranking Türkiye fifth in Europe and twelfth internationally with the current levels.
Citing his address at the summit, President Erdoğan recalled that he had highlighted the necessity for countries to have more equitable access to resources for climate finance and opportunities for technology transfer and said, "We emphasised that our nation will continue to contribute to global climate action through a sense of responsibility to our world and nature. In the fight against climate change, I also urged the international community to show the necessary solidarity. Inshallah, the 60th session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is scheduled to take place in Istanbul in January."
President Erdoğan stated that they additionally expressed their wish to host the 31st meeting of the Conference of the Parties, scheduled for 2026, during the summit and added, "We asked for support for our candidature. I also brought up the human tragedy that is taking place in the occupied Palestinian territories, especially in Gaza, on the summit agenda. Additionally, I engaged in bilateral discussions with some of my counterparts attending the Leaders' Summit. I hope the outcomes of the World Climate Action Summit and the bilateral discussions we had in Dubai will be auspicious."
"We will never stop pursuing peace"
President Erdoğan emphasised that they have always supported a permanent ceasefire rather than a "humanitarian pause", and went on to say,
Our concerns were once again validated by the current situation that unfolded in the aftermath of Israel's unlawful act. The opportunity for peace had been there, but with Israel's uncompromising stance, we have regrettably lost that opportunity for the time being. We are not, however, of the mindset that "this is how it will be from now on; opportunities for peace will be wasted." Let us hold on to hope. Hopefully, we can finally achieve the lasting peace we have been waiting for. We will never stop pursuing peace." We say, "We will continue to move forward without stopping," even in this situation. In our efforts to reestablish lasting peace, we are considering "what steps can be taken with regard to the ceasefire and which pressure points may be leveraged?" We stay in touch with heads of state and government. In fact, we expressed this view to our counterparts during our discussions today. By pursuing this endeavour with them, hopefully, we would like to reach a successful outcome."
Noting that the Group of Seven, which consists of foreign ministers within the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, including Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hakan Fidan, is also carrying out these efforts, President Erdoğan stated, "I hope we will get a result from these efforts."
Affirming that the decision reached at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's Riyadh Summit prompted the relevant contact group to begin working on behalf of the organisation, President Erdoğan went on to say:
''Here are a few things to keep in mind. First of all, while Islamic nations concentrated on Gaza and the Palestinian issue, they also united in a way that has never been witnessed before and implemented the principle based on our long-held conviction that the region's people should take ownership of their own issues. Perhaps the greatest strategic advantage we have is the institutionalisation of this principle. Regarding Gaza, the benefit of this group was that it united the members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation around a common policy. The efforts to establish a cease-fire in Gaza, and the efforts to achieve a two-state solution must go hand in hand. We first accepted this as a starting point among ourselves, and then we started to convey it to our counterparts. Secondly, we have explicitly told our counterparts not to discuss Gaza while a two-state solution is not on the table. We have observed that some European countries have begun to comprehend our position and accept our arguments as a result of our joint pressure."
"We will not forget this genocide, and we will not let it be forgotten''
Recalling the application made by Palestinians to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, a journalist asked, "At what stage is the application process currently? What decision do you expect the ICC to make regarding Netanyahu? President Erdoğan emphasised that nearly 3,000 lawyers made the necessary application to the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
Stating that AK Party Istanbul Deputy Cüneyt Yüksel is part of the delegation and that they will follow up the process in The Hague, President Erdoğan said:
The expectation from ICC is that these 'butchers of Gaza' who were caught red-handed are given necessary punishments. With the verdict, we hope people who have been waiting for justice will be able to say, "Now, it is done." We will follow up on this case at the highest level. According to our MP, Cüneyt Yüksel, their meeting in The Hague was successful. We expect that the documents and information we have submitted will result in favourable outcomes before the International Criminal Court. We will keep a close watch and not let it go. We demand that all Israeli leaders involved in this genocide be brought to trial and punished. The world has a responsibility for this. And as the late Aliya said, 'If forgotten, genocide will be repeated.' We will not forget this genocide, and we will not let it be forgotten. Israel will eventually pay for it. Those who are reluctant to speak up against their oppressor will certainly feel ashamed of their silence. This is what I mean when I say, "We are indebted to anyone."
