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Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan described on Saturday the agreement reached at the Sharm el-Sheikh peace summit as a “historic signature,” because it marked a turning point for the Gaza Strip and the broader Middle East.

Fidan discussed the implications of the Gaza ceasefire, Türkiye’s diplomatic strategy and the regional outlook following the deal, on a television program.

“It was a historic signature. It was extremely important for Gaza, for the region, and for the reassertion of our president’s global leadership,” he said.

Fidan warned that the collapse of the ceasefire would not lead to a conventional war but to “a renewed genocide.”

"The breakdown of the ceasefire means that Israel is using its overwhelming superiority in weapons to kill defenseless Palestinians. It's not war that will begin, but genocide that will begin again,” he said, stressing that Israel’s military operations no longer resemble conventional warfare.

“This is not a traditional conflict where both sides fight on equal footing. What continues in Gaza is systematic extermination,” added Fidan.

He emphasized that the absence of a lasting political settlement would only postpone future violence. “If there is no permanent two-state solution, we may stop this war now, but another one will erupt in a few years. As long as occupation and oppression persist, resistance will continue,” he said.

Türkiye’s strategic priorities: ending bloodshed, preventing displacement

Fidan underlined that Türkiye’s strategic goal is to end the mass killings in Gaza, alleviate the suffering of over 2 million civilians, and prevent a second large-scale displacement of Palestinians.

“Everything has not ended, it has just begun,” he said. “Our priority is to stop the ongoing genocide, to ensure the Palestinian people are not uprooted again, and to bring immediate relief to Gaza’s civilians.”

He said the ceasefire must pave the way for continued humanitarian aid and the transfer of administrative responsibility in Gaza to a Palestinian authority. “Our next target is ensuring that this agreement results in uninterrupted aid, Palestinian governance in Gaza, and concrete steps toward a two-state solution,” he noted.

Death toll could exceed 70,000

The foreign minister said the actual number of Palestinians killed in Gaza may be significantly higher than reported.

“I truly believe the number exceeds 70,000. Given the nature of destruction, precise data is hard to obtain, but from how this war has unfolded, I know many massacres and executions have occurred beyond the view of cameras,” he said.

Fidan added that the humanitarian catastrophe has deeply shaken the global conscience and eroded moral credibility in Western capitals.

“Those who once claimed moral superiority are now turning a blind eye to barbarity. In the 1940s, they were on the wrong side of history, and in 2025, they are again,” he said.

Türkiye ready to help rebuild Gaza

Fidan said Türkiye is prepared to play a leading role in Gaza’s reconstruction once stability is ensured.

“After the Feb. 6, (2023) earthquake, the world saw the professionalism of our rapid rebuilding. There is no reason the same cannot be done in Gaza,” he said, emphasizing that the process will require coordinated international funding.

He said Türkiye is ready to mobilize its companies, institutions and financial mechanisms for reconstruction efforts but stressed that “a lasting ceasefire” is essential.

Fidan also said Israel must be held accountable for damages, adding that “compensation must be on the agenda as a matter of justice.”

‘Illusion surrounding Israel has collapsed’

According to Fidan, the long-standing “illusion” created by Israel about its conduct has now been exposed. He said the Gaza war has revealed the deep contradictions in Western policy and morality.

“Humanity’s conscience cannot bear this. The illusion Israel has built over the years has been shattered. Stopping the genocide will only be possible once this illusion fully disappears,” he said.

Fidan noted that Türkiye has pursued an active and moral diplomacy from the beginning of the war, seeking to unify Muslim-majority nations through coordinated action.

He said the meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, seven Muslim leaders and US President Donald Trump in New York accelerated the diplomatic process, shifting Washington’s position from “unconditional support for Israel to an emerging mediating role.”

‘Dialogue is always good’

Commenting on the recent meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara, Fidan said the encounter was “a necessary and mature step.”

“Dialogue is always good. I respect the wisdom of such engagement,” he said, adding that Türkiye continues to share its long statecraft experience with regional partners.