The 'Day After' in Gaza: A Turkish Vision

​On April 22, IFI held a talk by Dr. Umut Uzer from Istanbul Technical University titled "The ‘Day After’ in Gaza: A Turkish Version." The discussion, moderated by IFI Director Joseph Bahout, focused on Türkiye's longstanding interest in Palestinian politics, influenced by various ideological groups and political parties since the 1960s. The talk covered Türkiye's historical relations with the Palestinians, the approach toward the PLO, and the increasing interest under the AK Party since 2002, which has led to Türkiye proposing to serve as a guarantor for Palestine.

As an introduction, Bahout highlighted Türkiye's recent proactive stance in Gaza, discussing President Erdogan's initiatives, including meetings with Hamas leaders and efforts to restructure the Palestinian Authority with potential for Hamas integration, contingent on accepting the 1967 borders. He emphasized the significance of exploring Turkish guarantorship for Gaza and Türkiye's potential role as a mediator. Bahout expressed the need for inventive diplomatic strategies, such as preemptively recognizing a Palestinian state to accelerate the peace processes. He also suggested Türkiye could contribute to regional stability by participating in an Islamic peace force and supporting reconstruction efforts in Gaza. However, he noted significant obstacles, including strained Turkish-Israeli relations and regional apprehensions about Türkiye's involvement, which could complicate its acceptance as a neutral mediator. Bahout also noted the growing European interest in recognizing Palestine, indicating a shift towards more proactive international efforts in resolving the conflict.
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Uzer started by correcting the misconception that Türkiye withdrew from Middle Eastern affairs following the demise of the Ottoman Empire. He highlighted Türkiye’s ongoing regional engagements, such as the Saadabad Pact of the 1930s and the Baghdad Pact of 1955, which demonstrated its enduring connections despite a shift towards Western cultural norms. In the 1940s, Türkiye initially approached the newly established state of Israel with caution, concerned it might adopt communist tendencies, but officially recognized Israel in 1949. Throughout the 1950s and beyond, Türkiye navigated its diplomatic relations, balancing its support between Israel and Palestine, as evidenced by its actions in the UN and its joining of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in 1969. Türkiye's stance varied over the late 20th century, influenced by both ideological and humanitarian factors, which included establishing a PLO diplomatic office in Ankara in 1979, later upgraded to an embassy in 1991.
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At the same time, Uzer shared stories about Turkish political activists, illustrating the deep historical and ideological bonds between Turkish and Palestinian movements. He also described the varied responses of Turkish political factions to Palestinian issues over the decades, including socialist, Islamist, and conservative perspectives. Additionally, he addressed broader aspects of Türkiye's foreign policy, such as trade relations with Israel and its role in global diplomatic efforts, including historical parallels like the guarantor role in Cyprus. He advocated for a multilateral strategy to address the Palestinian issue, suggesting that Türkiye could lead international efforts to promote peace and stability in the region.