Turkish foreign minister reaffirms solidarity with Palestine

By Merve Aydogan

ANKARA (AA) - Türkiye's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Friday reaffirmed Türkiye's continued solidarity with Palestine.

In a phone call, Cavusoglu told Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Maliki that Türkiye places great importance on preserving the sanctity and status of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem.

Stressing Türkiye's continued solidarity with Palestine, Cavusoglu also expressed his country's readiness to do whatever is necessary to de-escalate tensions.

For his part, Malki conveyed gratitude for Türkiye’s support.

On Wednesday, Israeli police said they detained 350 Palestinians from the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex, with witnesses saying they used excessive force, including tear gas.

Israel occupied East Jerusalem during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. It annexed the entire city in 1980, a move never recognized by the international community.