Addressing the Bosphorus Diplomacy Forum in İstanbul, Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Palestinian statehood will remain “incomplete” unless Israel is stopped, urging that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Cabinet face trial, whom he labeled a “genocidal cadre.” He praised recent recognitions of Palestine as “belated but significant,” while pressing for concrete measures to curb Israeli actions.

Forum Remarks in İstanbul

Speaking at the Bosphorus Diplomacy Forum, Erdogan argued that symbolic steps alone would not deliver Palestinian sovereignty, insisting Israel must be restrained to make statehood meaningful. He urged immediate judicial action against Netanyahu and senior officials, using the phrase “genocidal cadre,” and framed new diplomatic recognitions as an overdue yet positive shift that should be matched by enforcement.

Recognition Momentum and UNGA Mood

Erdogan’s comments followed a week in which more capitals moved to recognize Palestine, adding to a tally now exceeding 150 states. The recognitions shaped a charged UN General Assembly, where Israel’s leader condemned the push and delegates staged walkouts, underscoring deep divides over how to advance a two-state outcome.

Legal Pressure: ICJ and ICC Track

Beyond diplomacy, legal avenues continue to intensify pressure. The International Court of Justice is hearing a genocide case related to Gaza, with orders and proceedings placing additional scrutiny on Israel’s conduct. Separately, International Criminal Court arrest warrants for Israeli leaders remain in force after judges rejected a bid to withdraw them, keeping legal exposure high.

Ankara’s Position and Next Steps

Türkiye has cast the latest recognitions as necessary but insufficient, aligning its stance with calls for accountability and an enforceable path to sovereignty. Erdogan’s framing—welcoming diplomatic moves while demanding concrete constraints on Israeli actions—signals Ankara will press for measures that fuse recognition with legal and political levers to alter realities on the ground.