Hakan Fidan: Palestine has always been the compass of the Islamic world
Hakan Fidan, Turkey’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, speaking at the 9th International “Youth Al-Sharq” Conference held in Istanbul, emphasized that “Palestine is the compass of the Islamic world” and called for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and bold steps to counter Israel’s expansionism.
Fidan, referring to multiple global crises, described the current period as one of shifting power dynamics and stressed the necessity of unity in the Islamic world. He added: “Palestine has always been our compass and will continue to be. The Islamic world must develop a long-term strategy to confront Israel’s expansionism and take courageous steps along this path.”
Addressing the young participants of the conference, he said: “Define the future not by crises but by solutions. Be brave and creative, and fulfill your responsibilities toward the region and humanity.”
The Turkish Foreign Minister also highlighted the pivotal role of the younger generation in shaping the future of the Islamic world, stressing that this generation must overcome divisions and pave the way for cooperation and unity.
Fidan, pointing to Turkey’s efforts under the leadership of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, noted: “Ankara has always pursued the creation of platforms for dialogue and cooperation among Islamic countries and has spared no effort in strengthening the unity of the Islamic world.”
In another part of his remarks, he underlined the need for a “joint security strategy” among Islamic countries, stating: “Alongside economic and cultural cooperation, we must establish an effective collective security system to defend the integrity of the Islamic world against common threats.”
He also referred to the Sharm El-Sheikh summit on Gaza, urging the international community to move from speeches to concrete action, and added: “We have reached a stage where the time for slogans is over, and the world must be held accountable.”
