Navigating Challenges: Iran and Turkey's Cooperative Approach to Alleviate the Gaza Crisis
The Middle East, a region abundant with never-ending turmoil and conflicts, serves as a battleground for influential regional powers such as Iran and Turkey, both vying to shape the geopolitical landscape. Within this context, the Palestinian crisis emerges as a pivotal concern for Tehran and Ankara, given its longstanding significance in the Middle East and also in the global arena.
Palestine, with its strategic positioning at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe, also assumes a unique role as the birthplace of major religions. Consequently, the foreign policies of both Turkey and Iran are deeply entwined with the Palestinian question, as they perceive its resolution as a prerequisite for achieving a durable and just peace in the Middle East, recognizing the interconnected nature of all regional matters with the Palestinian cause.
Nevertheless, it is important to note that Turkey and Iran diverge in their approaches to addressing the Palestinian issue. Since 2002, when power shifted to Erdogan and his allies, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) has grappled with the challenge of maintaining support for Palestine while simultaneously fostering relations with the Israeli regime. Understanding the immense sensitivity of the Palestinian issue for Muslim nations, Erdogan has endeavored to navigate Ankara-Tel Aviv ties with minimal repercussions, albeit with occasional setbacks.
In stark contrast, Iran firmly aligns itself against Israel and advocates for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state through a democratic referendum, ultimately seeking the dismantling of Israel through peaceful means. Recent developments, such as the successful Operation Al-Aqsa Storm and the subsequent Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip to obfuscate its intelligence and military fiasco, have spurred closer cooperation between Turkey and Iran over the Palestinian issue.
Notably, President Erdogan, despite his close ties with Israel, refrained from labeling Hamas as a "terrorist" organization, instead referring to it as a "liberating movement." His efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza and secure the release of Hamas prisoners have led analysts to posit a convergence between Iran and Turkey on the Palestinian question, akin to the aftermath of Erdogan's rebuke of Shimon Peres, the former Israeli president, at the Davos summit on January 29, 2009. Consequently, relations between the two nations have ameliorated, particularly with regard to the Palestinian issue.
Many observers concur that Tehran and Ankara's joint approach to supporting Hamas underscores the growing ties between Turks and Iranians, noting that while Turkey's endeavors to establish a ceasefire and secure prisoner releases have yet to yield significant results, they have nevertheless established closer relations. The ongoing Gaza crisis has further stimulated political rapprochement between Iran and Turkey.
In addition to high-level telephone conversations, the presidents of both countries engaged in detailed discussions on the Palestinian issue during the recent ECO Summit in Uzbekistan. They emphasized the imperative of taking practical and effective measures at the summit of Islamic countries in Riyadh, calling for an immediate cessation of Gaza's bombardment and the lifting of its blockade. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, following his participation in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Summit in Riyadh, announced that Iranian President Dr. Ebrahim Raisi would embark on an official visit to Turkey on November 28.
Recent developments suggest that the exchange of viewpoints, and the presentation of practical solutions to alleviate the Gaza crisis will once again take center stage in the agendas of Iran and Turkey.
