Yilmaz stressed the importance of the ministerial meeting of the donor group for Palestine in Brussels, noting that every effort that keeps Palestine at the forefront of the international agenda is of utmost importance.
He stated that Turkey will continue its unwavering support for the Palestinian people and will contribute to the reconstruction of Gaza and the building of the Palestinian Authority’s capabilities, noting that the joint efforts of Turkey, the United States, Egypt and Qatar led to an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of prisoners and detainees, and an increased flow of humanitarian aid.
The Turkish official added that the first phase of the ceasefire was nearing completion and that the distribution of humanitarian aid was continuing despite the restrictions. He stated that UN Security Council Resolution 2803 on Gaza provided a firm international mandate to lay the foundations for lasting peace.
He added: "The reform efforts undertaken by the Palestinian Authority will be of crucial importance in the next phase. Our ultimate goal is the establishment of a Palestinian state."
Yilmaz pointed out that "the extreme right-wing Israeli government poses a major challenge to the Palestinian Authority's reform program and our efforts to support and strengthen it."
He stated that illegal Israeli restrictions have weakened the Palestinian Authority, particularly the freezing of Palestinian tax revenues and excessive security measures on the ground.
The Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister warned that illegal settlements threaten the continued existence of the State of Palestine and undermine the possibility of reaching a two-state solution.
Earlier on Thursday, a meeting of donor countries and international partners was launched at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, with the participation of more than 60 countries and international institutions.
The Gaza Strip witnessed an Israeli genocide against its inhabitants on October 8, 2023, which stopped two years later under a ceasefire agreement, after leaving more than 69,000 Palestinian martyrs and more than 170,000 wounded, most of them children and women, with reconstruction costs estimated by the United Nations at about $70 billion.
