ISTANBUL

Vice President of the State of Palestine, Hussein al-Sheikh, will pay an official visit to Türkiye on Tuesday, Turkish diplomatic sources said.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, hosting the Palestinian vice president, is expected to reaffirm Türkiye’s full support for the state of Palestine, the protection of Palestinian rights, and the vision of a two-state solution during their talks.

During their talks, according to the sources, Fidan will stress that the Israeli government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not be allowed to undermine regional and international efforts toward a two-state solution through unlawful actions and annexation policies in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The foreign minister is further expected to underscore the need for the international community to assume responsibility for preventing the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip from worsening, while holding consultations on the work of the Peace Council and its affiliated mechanisms, the situation on the ground, and potential next steps.

He will also highlight Israel’s efforts to obstruct the Peace Council’s work, stress that recovery and reconstruction in the Gaza Strip must begin without delay, and call for concrete international action to curb illegal settler violence and settlement expansion in the West Bank.

Fidan will further discuss Israel’s closure of holy sites in East Jerusalem, particularly Al-Aqsa Mosque, taking the Israeli administration's stance as unacceptable and underlining that lasting regional stability depends on resolving the Palestinian issue.

He will also emphasize the importance of reviving Palestinian reconciliation amid the historic challenges facing the Palestinian people.

In addition, Fidan will provide updates on Türkiye’s diplomatic efforts and engagements with regional countries to end the ongoing conflict through peaceful means, while highlighting Israel’s escalating attacks on Lebanon and occupation policies, which threaten to destabilize the region further.

Minister Fidan received Vice President al-Sheikh in Ankara on March 19, 2025, in his capacity as chief negotiator and secretary-general of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).