UPDATE 2 - Türkiye condemns Israel’s decision to expand Gaza military operation

ADDS REMARKS BY TURKISH VICE PRESIDENT, DETAILS

By Gizem Nisa Demir and Asiye Latife Yilmaz

ISTANBUL (AA) - Türkiye condemned on Friday in the strongest terms Israel’s decision to expand its military operations in Gaza that would lead to reoccupation of the enclave, describing it as a new phase in Tel Aviv’s "expansionist and genocidal policy" in the region.

"Every move by the fundamentalist Netanyahu government aimed at perpetuating genocide against the Palestinian people and extending the occupation deals a severe blow to international peace and security, exacerbates regional instability and further deepens the humanitarian crisis," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry stressed that "lasting peace" in the region can only be achieved through respect for "international law," prioritization of "diplomacy," and "protection of fundamental human rights."

It urged Israel to immediately halt its "war plans," accept "a ceasefire in Gaza," and resume "negotiations towards a two-state solution."

Calling Israel’s move an attempt "to render Gaza uninhabitable and forcibly displace" Palestinians from their land, the ministry appealed to the "international community to fulfill its responsibilities."

"We urge the UN Security Council to adopt binding measures to halt Israel’s actions in violation of international law and humanitarian values," the statement read.

Israel’s Security Cabinet has approved the plan, according to which forces will begin with taking over Gaza City, and ultimately install an administration in the entire enclave not led by Hamas or the Palestinian Authority.

- Call to the world

Meanwhile, Turkish parliament speaker Numan Kurtulmus said "this bloody plan of the genocidal and war criminal Israeli government is unacceptable, and the world must not remain silent."

"We strongly condemn and reject this treacherous plan," he said.

Kurtulmus described the "bloody plan" to seize control of all of Gaza — endorsed by the so-called Security Cabinet of what he called the Zionist terrorist state — as a grim move that blatantly violates both "international law and humanity."

He called on "international institutions and communities to stand up against Israel's bloody occupation plan and to stand with Gaza."

"Defending Gaza and Palestine today means defending the law, morality, and the common future of humanity," he said.

Communications Director Burhanettin Duran also condemned Israel’s decision to occupy Gaza, warning it would further deepen human rights violations and humanitarian crises.

Duran said on X that Israel’s plans and attacks target "all of humanity, peace, and stability."

"Considering the intensified heavy bombardment of civilians, the destruction of infrastructure, and the obstruction of basic humanitarian needs, what Israel is doing in Gaza is a clear act of genocide. There can be no justification for occupation, oppression, and taking the lives of innocent people," Duran said.

He stressed that "the conscience of humanity cannot be silenced," urging the international community to "stand firmly against such unilateral moves and to work actively toward a fair resolution."

"This is our call to the world," he said, not to stay silent, but to "speak out for humanity" and "speak out for justice."

"The conscience of the world has the power to stop and defeat Israel. As our president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has emphatically underlined, ‘Everyone may remain silent. Everyone may stand by idly. But we will not be silent, we cannot be silent, and rest assured, we will not remain silent.’"

Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz also said that the alliance of humanity must take “immediate action against this cursed policy,” and effective sanctions must be on the agenda in all platforms, primarily the UN.

"Those who insist on genocide and occupation policies, and act with the mindset of 'might makes right', will sooner or later be held accountable before the law, history, and the conscience of humanity,” Yilmaz wrote on X.

“The occupying and genocidal Israeli administration is violating legal and humanitarian principles, avoiding a ceasefire, obstructing humanitarian aid, and undermining the two-state solution,” he said.

He said this “inhumane policy threatens peace and stability throughout our region,” and undermines international institutions and rules.

Israel withdrew thousands of illegal settlers and its forces from Gaza in 2005, but retained control over its borders, airspace and utilities.

Israel, at war in Gaza, has killed more than 61,000 people and destroyed the territory. Attempts to mediate a ceasefire have so far failed and Tel Aviv faces a rising international outcry over a deepening humanitarian disaster.