Türkiye has firmly rejected any plan to deport Palestinians
from Gaza, condemning such proposals as null and void. Turkish officials
including Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and the Defense Ministry have condemned
Israel’s displacement policies, called for a ceasefire, and emphasised support
for a sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Türkiye’s Strong Opposition to Gaza Deportation Plans
As reported by Efe Ozkan of Anadolu Agency, the Turkish National Defense Ministry made it explicitly clear its opposition to any plans involving the exile, displacement, or expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza. The ministry spokesperson stated,
“We are completely against the exile, displacement, or expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza”
and criticised Israel’s annexation
policies for denying Palestinian refugees the right to return.
In parallel, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reiterated Türkiye’s official stance, arguing against any plan forcing the Palestinians to leave their homeland during an extraordinary parliamentary session convened to discuss Israel's operations in Gaza. Speaking to lawmakers, Fidan said,
“We oppose a plan that would deport the Palestinian people from Gaza regardless of who proposes it,”
and underscored that Israel’s actions in Gaza have amounted
to genocide witnessed globally.
Call for Immediate Ceasefire and Humanitarian Support
Foreign Minister Fidan, after a meeting of the Gaza Contact Group held in Antalya, emphasised the dire humanitarian situation and urgent need for peace. He said,
“A lasting ceasefire must be established as soon as possible,”
and voiced support for the ceasefire initiative led by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States. He reaffirmed Türkiye’s backing of the Gaza reconstruction plan endorsed by the Arab League and underlined that
“no plan forcing Palestinians to abandon their homeland is at all acceptable”.
In a joint statement with the Arab League and the
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), he also stressed the critical need
for uninterrupted humanitarian aid to reach Gaza. Fidan condemned Israel’s
aggressive stance as a cause of regional instability and called for an
international community effort to ensure lasting peace based on a two-state
solution with borders defined by the 1967 lines and East Jerusalem as the
capital of Palestine.
International and UN Response on Forced Displacement
The United Nations human rights chief, Volker Türk, voiced grave concerns over Israeli plans to forcibly transfer Gaza’s population within the strip and even beyond. He warned that such actions
“aggravate concerns regarding Palestinians’ existence”
in Gaza. Türk described these military
strategies as unlikely to lead to a durable resolution, highlighting the risk
of mass displacement, increased casualties, and destruction of Gaza’s
infrastructure. The ongoing blockade has deprived Gaza of basic necessities,
constituting, in his words, a war crime.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry also called on the UN Security Council and international community to act decisively to prevent Israel’s plans. They condemned the Israeli government’s attempts to
“forcibly displace Palestinians from their own land,”
which they said would severely impact global
security.
Domestic Political Support and Diplomatic Efforts
Within Türkiye, there is widespread political consensus
denouncing Israel’s actions. Parliament Speaker Mustafa Şentop called for the
suspension of Israel’s membership in the United Nations and other international
bodies over its genocidal policies. Various opposition parties including the
Republican People’s Party (CHP), the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM
Party), and others co-signed a petition demanding parliamentary sessions
focused on Gaza’s situation.
At diplomatic forums like the Antalya Diplomacy Forum
(ADF2025), Türkiye continues efforts to mobilise support for Palestinian rights
and peace initiatives. Multiple Arab countries along with EU and international
representatives have participated in talks addressing the Gaza crisis, Israeli
aggression, and humanitarian challenges.
President Erdoğan’s Stance and Bilateral Relations
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been vocally critical of
Israel, equating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies with historic
atrocities and accusing Tel Aviv of genocide. Following the latest escalations,
Türkiye suspended trade with Israel and joined a South African-led initiative
to seek genocide prosecution of Israel at the International Court of Justice
(ICJ).
The Wider Context of Gaza and Israel Conflict
Israel’s plan to take control of Gaza City has faced
international criticism. As reported by the BBC, the plan involves establishing
an alternative civilian administration, replacing Hamas governance. The move
has been condemned by global leaders including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir
Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has halted approval for
German arms exports to Israel over concerns about the military strategy.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called such displacement
efforts a “fully-fledged crime,” while UN officials warned the war must end
immediately to avoid further humanitarian disaster and crimes against humanity.
Türkiye has taken a firm and consistent position against any
forced relocation of Palestinians from Gaza, framing such attempts as unlawful
and void. Turkish leadership calls for immediate ceasefire, humanitarian aid
access, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state under the
1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. Türkiye continues to advocate
for international action and cooperation to halt Israel’s aggressive policies
and resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a two-state solution.