In his keynote address, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an called on OIC member states to act collectively in response to the continuing crisis in Gaza and broader Middle East tensions. During the 51st session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers opened on Saturday (June 20) in Istanbul, gathering high-level delegates from over 40 countries.

Present were the heads of government, foreign ministers, and representatives from OIC-affiliated institutions and international organisations attending the two-day conference, aimed at addressing urgent regional and global issues facing the Muslim world.

 Erdogan denounced Israel’s military operations, accusing it of indiscriminately bombing civilian infrastructure and worsening humanitarian conditions, with the support of Western powers. Erdo?an also noted that innocent Palestinians are being killed while waiting for basic aid like food and medical assistance.

The Turkish leader underscored the urgency of achieving a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He urged member countries to increase diplomatic recognition of the State of Palestine and support coordinated legal actions to hold Israel accountable under international law and the UN Charter. “We must maintain pressure through legal and diplomatic channels,” Erdo?an emphasized.

Turning to regional dynamics, Erdo?an raised alarm over Israel’s strikes on Iran, suggesting the attacks were timed to derail diplomatic efforts surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme. He warned against what he described as attempts to redraw Middle Eastern borders through violence, likening current events to a “new Sykes-Picot order” imposed from the outside.

Chairing the session, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reaffirmed Ankara’s commitment to defending justice and amplifying the voice of the Islamic world. He criticized Israel’s aggression as a dangerous provocation that risks igniting wider regional conflict. Under Türkiye’s OIC presidency, he said, the country will continue to prioritize solidarity, peace, and resistance against injustice.