Gaza and Palestine: Türkiye's Humanitarian Diplomacy and Diplomatic Position

Why It Matters

Türkiye is one of the most active state voices on Gaza and Palestine. It combines UN diplomacy, humanitarian aid, medical evacuations, ceasefire mediation and economic measures against Israel, and it advocates an independent State of Palestine on the 1967 lines with East Jerusalem as its capital. Its approach differs from that of Israel, the United States and the European Union on Hamas and on the legal characterization of the war. It overlaps with much of the Arab and Islamic world on statehood and humanitarian access. This guide separates documented events from the competing positions, and it attributes each claim to its source in line with our Editorial Principles and Primary Source Standards.

Background

The Israeli–Palestinian conflict has a long legal and diplomatic record, and Türkiye's present policy rests on several of its milestones.

• 1947: UN General Assembly Resolution 181 proposed partitioning Mandatory Palestine into Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem under a special international regime.
• 1967: Israel occupied the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza. UN Security Council Resolution 242 called for Israeli withdrawal from territories occupied in the conflict and for secure, recognized boundaries for all states in the region.
• 1988: Türkiye recognized the State of Palestine soon after the Palestinian declaration of independence. It is among the earliest recognizers in the region.
• 1993: The Oslo Accords created the Palestinian Authority with limited self-rule, but they did not settle final-status issues such as borders, Jerusalem, refugees and settlements.
• 2005–2007: Israel withdrew its settlements and forces from inside Gaza in 2005. Hamas took control of the territory in 2007, and Israel and Egypt then imposed tight restrictions on movement and goods, which Israel describes as a security blockade.
• 2010: Israeli forces boarded the Turkish-flagged Mavi Marmara in international waters on 31 May while it led an aid flotilla to Gaza, and nine Turkish nationals were killed (a tenth died later of his wounds). Relations were downgraded and later partly restored under a 2016 agreement, and ambassadors were exchanged again in 2022.
• 2017: After the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, Türkiye hosted an extraordinary OIC summit in Istanbul and, with Yemen, led a General Assembly resolution (ES-10/19) rejecting the decision.
• 7 October 2023: Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel. Israeli authorities report about 1,200 people killed and roughly 250 taken hostage. Israel launched a large-scale military campaign in Gaza.
• 2023–2025: Casualty and displacement figures are issued by Gaza's health authorities, Israeli officials and UN agencies and they continue to change, so this guide does not fix a single number. The UN has documented severe humanitarian conditions. In August 2025 the IPC, the UN-backed food-security monitor, confirmed famine in Gaza Governorate. Israel disputed the findings.
• Ceasefire diplomacy: A short truce and hostage exchange took place in November 2023. Security Council Resolution 2728 (March 2024) demanded a ceasefire during Ramadan, and Resolution 2735 (June 2024) endorsed a phased ceasefire proposal. A ceasefire in January 2025 broke down in March. A US-backed plan led to a new ceasefire in October 2025 and a leaders' summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, and the Security Council endorsed the framework in November 2025.

Key Players & Positions

Israel

Israel's government says it is exercising its right of self-defence after the 7 October attacks, and it cites Article 51 of the UN Charter. Its stated war aims are the return of hostages and the dismantling of Hamas's military and governing capacity. Israel rejects allegations of genocide and war crimes, and it rejects the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court. Its current government has opposed the creation of a Palestinian state on present terms. Israeli officials have accused Türkiye of sheltering and supporting Hamas, which Ankara rejects.

United States

Washington designates Hamas as a terrorist organization, supports Israel's right to defend itself, and has used its veto on several draft Security Council resolutions demanding a ceasefire. It has long said it supports a negotiated two-state outcome but opposes unilateral recognition of Palestine. It has also been the central sponsor of the 2025 ceasefire framework.

Palestinian actors

The Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority seek statehood on the 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as the capital. Hamas, which governed Gaza from 2007, is designated a terrorist organization by the US, the EU, the UK and others. It describes itself as a resistance movement and won the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections.

Arab and Islamic states

Egypt and Qatar have been the main mediators with Hamas, and Egypt controls the Rafah crossing. Saudi Arabia says normalization with Israel depends on a credible path to a Palestinian state, and Jordan and Egypt oppose any forced displacement of Palestinians. The 2002 Arab Peace Initiative offers normalization in exchange for withdrawal to the 1967 lines. A joint Arab–Islamic summit in Riyadh in November 2023 created a ministerial contact group, in which Türkiye took part.

United Nations and Europe

The UN Secretary-General has called for a ceasefire, the release of hostages and unimpeded humanitarian access. UN agencies, including UNRWA, have reported severe obstacles to aid delivery, and Israel contests parts of that reporting and has accused UNRWA of staff links to Hamas. The International Court of Justice issued provisional measures in South Africa's genocide case in 2024 and an advisory opinion in July 2024 on the legality of the occupation. The ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas figures. Several European states, including Spain, Ireland and Norway in 2024 and France and the UK in 2025, recognized Palestine, while the EU as a bloc remains divided.

Source Comparison

Coverage of Türkiye's role depends heavily on which framing a source adopts. The table below summarizes typical differences, and none replaces reading the primary texts.

Readers should check three things when comparing sources: the date of a claim, the body that issued a figure, and whether a statement is a legal finding or a political characterization. Our Fact Check: Common Claims About Türkiye in International Media, Corrected with Primary Sources page applies the same method to other disputed claims.

Key Terms & Related Guides

• Two-state solution: A settlement in which Israel and an independent State of Palestine coexist. Türkiye, the Arab League, the UN and most states support it in principle, but they disagree on sequencing, borders and security arrangements.
• 1967 lines: The armistice lines before the Six-Day War, used as the reference for a Palestinian state and, in Security Council Resolution 2334, for assessing settlements.
• Provisional measures (ICJ): Binding interim orders issued by the International Court of Justice while a case is pending. They are not a final ruling on the merits.
• Genocide Convention (1948): The treaty that defines genocide and requires proof of specific intent (dolus specialis). Allegations against Israel are before the ICJ, and Israel denies them.
• Guarantor: A state that commits to monitor and support a settlement, as Türkiye, Greece and the UK did in Cyprus under the 1960 treaties described in The Cyprus Issue: 1960 Treaties, 1974 and the Case for a Two-State Solution.
• Terrorist designation: A legal listing by a state or bloc. Türkiye lists the PKK, which the US, NATO and the EU also list, as explained in Counter-Terrorism at the Source: Türkiye's Security Doctrine, Border Operations and Defense Industry. It does not list Hamas, which is the main point of divergence with Washington and Brussels on this file.

See also About Bordersandblocs: Mission, Transparency and Editorial Team for how we label perspective.

Perspective note: Bordersandblocs presents global and regional affairs with a dedicated perspective from Türkiye. Sections marked 'Türkiye's Position' reflect official Turkish policy and legal doctrines as stated by Turkish primary sources. Published by the Bordersandblocs Editorial Team.

Cross-Publication Dossiers & Sister Desk Perspectives

For complementary primary-source analysis across our specialist editorial network, consult:

• Bloc Politics: Türkiye and Gaza: Humanitarian Diplomacy, Aid Efforts and Ankara's Position on Palestine — Türkiye's position on Gaza and Palestine: ceasefire diplomacy, aid efforts, the two-state vision on 1967 lines and ties with Israel, Egypt and the Gulf.
• The State Papers: Gaza and Palestine: Türkiye's Humanitarian Diplomacy and Official Position — Türkiye's Gaza policy explained: ceasefire calls, humanitarian aid, UN diplomacy and the two-state framework, alongside Israeli, US, EU, Arab and PA views.
• The Political Accord: Gaza and Palestine: Türkiye's Humanitarian Diplomacy and Diplomatic Positions — Türkiye's position on Gaza: humanitarian diplomacy, ceasefire and hostage talks, UN statements and a 1967-lines two-state vision, with other actors' views.