ISTANBUL, June 15 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed hope that the US plan for a settlement in the Gaza Strip is sincere and not an investment in the US presidential elections.
“It is natural to expect evidence from Biden that this plan is not an investment in elections, but a sincere and real step to stop the massacre in Palestine. The UN Security Council resolution is one step, but it is not enough. We all know how many resolutions on Israel remain on paper and are ignored by Tel Aviv. So for Biden, this is a test of sincerity,” Erdogan told reporters upon returning from the G7 summit.
According to him, already in the United States the attitude towards Israel’s actions is gradually changing, which is expressed in protests at universities, and with the approaching elections, the “atmosphere” will change and the dissatisfaction of the US leadership with the “depravity” of Tel Aviv will be fully manifested .
The G7 countries previously once again called on Hamas to accept the ceasefire proposal, and countries with influence on the movement to facilitate this. At the same time, it is emphasized that Israel must comply with its obligations under international law.
The UN Security Council on Monday adopted a US resolution with a phased ceasefire plan in the Gaza Strip outlined earlier by US President Joe Biden. 14 countries voted in favor. Russia abstained.
The resolution largely repeats Israel's three-phase Gaza ceasefire proposal that President Biden presented to the public. The document calls on Hamas to accept the initiative that «Israel has already accepted.» The text also calls on both sides to fully implement the terms of this initiative without delay or preconditions.
The first stage, according to the resolution, includes an immediate full ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from populated areas of Gaza, the release of hostages held by Hamas, including the wounded, elderly and women, and the exchange of arrested Palestinians. The second phase involves an indefinite cessation of hostilities in exchange for the release of the remaining hostages, as well as the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. At the same time, the resolution emphasizes that an indefinite cessation of hostilities is provided only by agreement of the parties. The third phase of this initiative involves the launch of a “multi-year reconstruction plan” for Gaza.
The resolution rejects any attempt at demographic or territorial change in the Gaza Strip, including any action that reduces the enclave's territory.