Turkish President Erdogan vows swift action for Gaza cease-fire, hostage release

ISTANBUL

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday said that Türkiye will expedite its efforts for the release of all hostages and establishment of a permanent truce in Gaza.

"We will accelerate our efforts for the release of hostages and the establishment of a lasting cease-fire. Hopefully, our initiatives will continue in the multidimensional manner in the future too," Erdogan said on X, formerly known as Twitter, on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

Türkiye stands by its Palestinian brothers and sisters, as it has done throughout history, he pledged.

"Our humanitarian aid for our brothers and sisters in Gaza continues. So far, we have sent 12 planes and 1 ship loaded with aid materials to Al Arish (airport)," Erdogan said.

He also said that the second ship carrying 1,500 tons of humanitarian aid set sail earlier on Wednesday.

"We are facilitating the transfer of the injured, especially cancer patients and children, to Türkiye for treatment. Examinations for locations of the field hospitals we will establish in Gaza are underway," the Turkish leader added.

Meanwhile, the Turkish Foreign Ministry, in a statement marking the international day, reiterated Ankara's "strong commitment to the just cause of Palestine"

“Our efforts to eliminate the injustices suffered by our brotherly Palestinian people will continue based on a two-state solution,” the ministry said X.

Also, Communications Director Fahrettin Altun said Türkiye considers it responsibility to promote "truth and justice" through various channels of communications.

"It (Türkiye) will continue its sincere efforts to support the Palestinian people and assiduously pursue a fair and permanent solution to the Palestinian issue, as it has done in the past," Altun said on X.

Altun also said that the Turkish president always supported Palestinians in their "just cause."

"Justice requires universality. Today, we shall reiterate our call for free Palestine," he concluded.

Israel launched a massive military campaign in the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7.

It has since killed over 15,000 people, including 6,150 children and 4,000 women, according to health authorities in the enclave.

The official Israeli death toll stands at 1,200.

A Qatari-mediated four-day humanitarian pause took effect on Friday which temporarily halted Israel’s attacks on Gaza and included the freeing by Hamas of Israelis in exchange for the release by Israel of Palestinians from Israeli jails.

Qatar announced an agreement late Monday to extend an initial four-day pause for two more days, under which further prisoner exchanges will be carried out.