Ankara-Cairo alliance: Joint effort to support Palestine and regional stability

A joint statement signed by Türkiye and Egypt rejects the expulsion and displacement of the Palestinian people from their land.

Following a joint press conference held in Ankara by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Egyptian Foreign Minister Bedr Abdellaty, the signing of the “Joint Statement of Turkish and Egyptian Foreign Ministers” was announced, Caliber.Az reports referencing Turkish media.

The statement stresses the need for Israel to reverse its decisions that undermine the role of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

Emphasizing the importance of preserving UNRWA's role, which remains indispensable in supporting Palestinian refugees in the occupied Palestinian territories, the statement reads:

“The parties emphasized their strong support for the resilience of the Palestinian people and their commitment to their land, their legitimate rights, and their homeland. Both countries reiterated their rejection of any encroachment on the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people for short- or long-term purposes — whether through settlement activities, territorial annexation, or by encouraging the expulsion, displacement, or transfer of the Palestinian people to other countries outside the Palestinian territories. Such actions, they warned, threaten regional stability, risk further widening the conflict, and undermine opportunities for peace and coexistence.”

The declaration reaffirms the commitment to address the root causes of instability in the Middle East, particularly through achieving a just and lasting peace between Palestine and Israel based on international law, UN resolutions, and the two-state solution — including the establishment of a Palestinian state on the basis of the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Marking 2025 as the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Türkiye and Egypt, the statement noted:

“(The Ministers) expressed satisfaction with the positive trend in bilateral relations, confirmed by the significant increase in bilateral trade, which aligns with the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting between the Republic of Türkiye and the Arab Republic of Egypt in September 2024. Trade between the two countries reached $8.8 billion in 2024.”

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing the investment climate for investors and the private sector in both countries. They also announced plans to increase bilateral trade volume to $15 billion by further strengthening economic and trade ties and expanding cooperation in the industrial sector.

The statement welcomed the signing of the Gaza ceasefire agreement and the exchange of hostages and prisoners, commending the efforts of Egypt, Qatar, and the United States in brokering the deal.

In light of the devastating aftermath of the war in Gaza, which has resulted in one of the worst human tragedies in modern history, the statement stressed the importance of intensifying global efforts to alleviate suffering in Gaza. It called for:

• Increasing humanitarian assistance
• Reconstructing Gaza without any displacement of Palestinians from their land
• Encouraging international donors to actively participate in the reconstruction conference expected to be hosted by Egypt.

By Tamilla Hasanova