ANKARA, September 18, 2025 (WAFA) – President Mahmoud Abbas held a summit meeting today with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the presidential palace in Ankara, where the two leaders discussed the latest developments in Palestine, international diplomatic efforts, and ways to end the ongoing war on the Gaza Strip.
During the talks, President Abbas expressed his gratitude to President Erdoğan for Turkey's consistent support for the Palestinian people and their legitimate cause in international forums, as well as for the humanitarian aid provided to the people of the Gaza Strip.
The leaders discussed the strong historical ties between Palestine and Turkey and explored avenues to enhance bilateral relations across various sectors. They also exchanged views on several regional and international issues of mutual concern.
President Abbas briefed his Turkish counterpart on the situation on the ground, particularly the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza, the expansion of settlements, and increasing attacks by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank, including Jerusalem. He emphasized the urgent need for a permanent ceasefire, the unimpeded entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and efforts to end the Israeli occupation and establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
President Abbas outlined the current Palestinian priorities: an immediate and lasting ceasefire, unconditional humanitarian access to Gaza to stop the genocide, famine, destruction, and displacement, the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Strip, and the assumption of full governmental and security responsibilities by the State of Palestine with Arab and international support. He also stressed the need to begin early recovery and reconstruction efforts.
The President called on the international community to take serious and concrete steps to halt Israel’s annexation plans in the West Bank, stop settlement expansion and settler violence, and ensure the release of Palestinian tax funds withheld by the Israeli government.
He reiterated that the key to security and stability in the region lies in ending the war, halting forced displacement and land appropriation, and ending the Israeli occupation of the land of the State of Palestine—based on the 1967 borders—with East Jerusalem as the capital.
The two leaders also discussed preparations for the upcoming high-level international conference on the Palestinian issue and the implementation of the two-state solution, scheduled to take place in New York on September 22, under the joint sponsorship of Saudi Arabia and France.
Both presidents affirmed the continuation of joint coordination between Palestine and Turkey to support Palestinian diplomatic efforts to end the occupation in line with international law and UN resolutions, secure broader international recognition of the State of Palestine, and achieve full UN membership.
Following the summit meeting, an expanded session was held with the participation of both Palestinian and Turkish delegations.
President Abbas had arrived in Turkey on Wednesday for a three-day official visit as part of ongoing political consultations between the two countries, which enjoy longstanding and historic ties.
M.N
