FM: Türkiye ties with Israel hinge on Gaza and two-state solution

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said that normalisation of relations between Türkiye and Israel depends on resolving the Palestinian issue through a two-state solution and ending the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Speaking in an interview with the Japanese newspaper Nikkei, Fidan outlined Ankara’s conditions for restoring ties.

“The conditions for normalising relations with Israel are a decision on the creation of two states and the end of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza,” he said.

Fidan noted that Türkiye and Israel established diplomatic relations in 1949 and that bilateral trade had reached approximately $10 billion annually prior to the escalation in Gaza.

He stressed that any improvement in relations would require concrete changes on the ground.

“Israel must stop the killing of Palestinians and not prevent the residents of Gaza from accessing essential items such as food, housing, medicine and water. If these conditions are met, we can return to normal life [cooperation with Israel], and there will be no problems. We want to achieve a two-state solution,” he said.

Türkiye has suspended all trade relations with Israel since May 2024.

By Tamilla Hasanova