President Erdogan, Kazakh premier discuss regional, global issues

Speaking about a variety of regional and international concerns, including Israel's continuous airstrikes on Gaza and the overall state of the area, Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan convened on Thursday.

Erdogan and Bektenov discussed both wide-ranging geopolitical issues and bilateral relations between Turkey and Kazakhstan at their meeting at the presidential compound in Ankara, according to the Turkish Communications Directorate.

Erdogan criticized Israel specifically for its involvement in growing tensions and underlined the necessity of swift action to address the region's escalating crisis. He promoted more collaboration within the Organization of Turkic States to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza, while also calling for a rapid and permanent cessation of hostilities.

The Turkish President also emphasized the significance of bolstering relations with Kazakhstan in a number of areas, including in the military industry and counterterrorism initiatives.

The talks take place against the backdrop of violence that has persisted in Gaza as a result of Israel's military actions, which have left many dead and caused extensive damage. Some statistics state that since October of last year, over 34,000 Palestinians have died, over 1,200 of those deaths coming from a cross-border strike carried out by Hamas.

With 85% of the population thought to have been internally displaced, the protracted fighting has destroyed large areas of Gaza. Additionally, because of a debilitating siege, the enclave still has acute shortages of basic necessities including food and medication.

The International Court of Justice issued an interim verdict in January, saying that Tel Aviv must stop its acts of genocide and make sure that humanitarian help is provided to residents in the area. Israel's activities in Gaza have sparked charges of genocide.

Both presidents have reaffirmed their commitment to working together and having discussions in order to achieve peace and stability, and their meeting represents a coordinated effort to address the urgent humanitarian and geopolitical concerns confronting the area.

Source: AA