Erdoğan Slams Israel and Calls for Peace at Antalya Diplomacy Forum

The venue witnessed strict security procedures, including multiple barriers separating the guest platform from the audience—particularly around Syrian transitional president Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was prevented from interacting with attendees inside the hall.

In his opening speech, Erdoğan said:“We want the Antalya Forum to be a message of goodwill. There is significant international interest in this forum, and we wish to send a message of peace to the peoples of the world.”

Erdoğan launched sharp criticism at Israel over its actions against the people of Gaza, stating:“Israel grows more brazen due to the silence and indifference of the world. Remaining silent about Israel’s massacres is participation in the crime. Israel is a terrorist state—there is no other way to describe it.”

He stressed:“No one has the right to label Palestinians as terrorists or insult their struggle. Peace in the Middle East cannot be achieved without the establishment of a free and sovereign Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders.”

Erdoğan also addressed Israeli attacks on Syria and Lebanon, pointing to efforts to incite sectarian divisions in the region:“By attacking Syria and Lebanon, Israel becomes a source of regional instability. It is trying to inflame ethnic and sectarian discord in Syria to undermine the gains of the revolution and obstruct efforts to confront extremist groups.”

He affirmed:“Syria’s security and stability are part of our own. Those who seek to prolong the suffering of the Syrian people must be prepared to pay the price. We will not allow anyone to destabilize Syria.”

Erdoğan noted alignment between Turkey, the United States, and Russia on the issue of Syrian territorial unity, emphasizing that standing up to injustice is “a human duty.”

He added:“The global system has failed to address numerous crises. The international community is incapable of developing more just and humane policies. We must highlight the power of humanitarian diplomacy in solving problems—because standing against injustice is a human duty before it is a political one.”

He concluded by saying:“The world is bigger than the five permanent members of the Security Council, because humanity is greater than just five. In Ankara, we prefer dialogue over conflict, collective reasoning and global conscience over polarization. We want our region to enjoy peace instead of conflict, and prosperity instead of bloodshed and tears. Achieving peace requires more effort than waging war.”

Erdoğan affirmed that his country seeks peace in Ukraine, Syria, Gaza, and Libya, and aims to build good neighborly relations, stating:“We want to establish a belt of peace in our region. We covet no one’s land, and we prioritize people over resources.”