UPDATE - Türkiye says dispute between Israel, Palestine turned into conflict between oppressors and oppressed

UPDATES WITH MORE STATEMENTS BY TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER; EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Esra Tekin, Gizem Nisa Cebi

ISTANBUL (AA) – The long-running dispute between Israel and Palestine is no ordinary conflict but rather a struggle between oppressors and the oppressed, said the Turkish foreign minister on Friday.

"The conflict between Israel and Palestine has ceased to be a war and has turned into a struggle of the oppressors and the oppressed," Hakan Fidan told a joint news conference with Winston Peters, his counterpart from New Zealand, in Istanbul.

The conflict evolved into "struggle between the founders of the international system and the oppressed within this system," he added.

He said Israel has not only been killing Palestinians but also international law.

More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed and 77,000 others wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023. The death toll from the Hamas incursion stands at 1,200.

The conflict has turned Gaza to ruins, led to mass internal displacement and conditions for famine.

Fidan said there was intensive cooperation between Türkiye and its partners regarding the recognition of Palestine as a state, adding that Ankara will continue its efforts on the issue.

"If we fail to mobilize the international community to take significant steps towards the Palestinian state, this will not be the last Gaza war ... we need to work with all our might to bring about a permanent solution," he said.

The foreign minister said he will meet other members of the contact group established by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League during his visit to Riyadh over the weekend.

He stressed Türkiye is working extensively with friends, allies and the international community to stop the current atrocities in Gaza, and to provide humanitarian aid to the blockaded region.

"Our colleagues at the UN are working day and night. They are working in Geneva. There is incredible effort and effort politically and humanely in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and as you have seen, the world capitals are also mobilized," he said.