ANKARA/ISTANBUL

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said no one can take Gaza from the Palestinians, rejecting US President Donald Trump's proposal to “take over” the coastal enclave and relocate the population to neighboring Arab countries.

Erdogan told Indonesia's Narasi TV in an interview published Thursday that he believes Trump is reaching such an agreement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which poses a "great threat to world peace."

However, the Turkish president expressed hope that the US would quickly correct its policy mistake.

He said "the Islamic world can’t say yes to this."

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will take a firm stance against this, he said, adding that countries such as Türkiye, Indonesia, and Pakistan cannot support such a proposal either.

Erdogan recalled, "First of all, if it is necessary to support world peace, America is primarily responsible for this. A country like America should be in favor of world peace.”

He emphasized that Ankara has always supported world peace and that Indonesia, Pakistan, and Malaysia agree with Türkiye on this issue and will continue to work for it.

On Feb. 4, Trump said that the US would "take over" Gaza and resettle Palestinians elsewhere under an extraordinary redevelopment plan that he claimed could turn the enclave into "the Riviera of the Middle East."

His proposal was met with widespread condemnations from the Palestinians, Arab countries, and many other nations across the world, including Canada, France, Germany, and the UK.

US support for Israel

“You look at Palestine... hospitals and schools are destroyed. We consider this an inhumane approach… we consider it an inhumane act," President Erdogan said.

He described Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu as a "gangster," saying he has evaded both domestic judicial authorities and the International Criminal Court's (ICC) decisions.

They respect the International Criminal Court's decision on Netanyahu's arrest and are awaiting its implementation, he added.

The president criticized the US opposition and resistance against the international judiciary, saying, "It is impossible to approve these. We are in favor of justice. We insist on respecting an international judiciary's decision, and we will continue to do so."

He praised the ICC for making the most accurate decision on this issue, adding, "Of course, we support South Africa. It took the first step, and we support that decision alongside them, and we are waiting for it to be implemented."

A ceasefire agreement has been in place in Gaza since Jan. 19, pausing Israel’s genocidal war, which has killed more than 48,200 people and left the enclave in ruins.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November last year for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

Türkiye-Indonesia relations

President Erdogan emphasized that Türkiye-Indonesian relations are based on "400 years of history," and that continued through thick and thin.

He said various meetings were held between the two countries' institutions, and agreements were signed by the parties.

“With these 12 agreements, we have carried the ties between Türkiye and Indonesia to a much stronger, much stronger point, he added.