• Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan identifies Israel's expansionism as the biggest regional problem.
• Fidan asserts Israel aims to establish a "Greater Israel" and weaken neighboring countries.
• The comments were made during a joint summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League.
• Fidan urges Arab and Islamic countries to unify against Israeli actions affecting regional stability.
• He expresses strong support for Qatar amid Israeli attacks targeting Hamas members.

During an emergency summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan declared that the primary issue in the region is Israel's expansionist policy. Fidan highlighted two main reasons for this policy: the intent to expand Israeli territory to create a “Greater Israel” and the aim to weaken and fragment neighboring countries, especially those in the region, such as Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, and Jordan, according to aa and trtglobal.

Fidan remarked that Israel’s policies have exacerbated the situation since the initial occupation of Palestinian lands. He stressed that the current conflict transcends the Palestinian issue, framing it instead as a challenge posed by Israeli expansionism that threatens other Arab and Islamic nations, emphasizing that all these nations must unite against this shared threat. “We are not merely facing a Palestinian problem; we are also confronting Israeli expansionism,” he noted, according to middleeasteye.

Fidan expressed concerns regarding ongoing Israeli attacks in Syria, mentioning they have decreased but remain a persistent threat. He described recent developments in the southern region of Syria, particularly, as “particularly dangerous,” asserting that such provocations could destabilize the nation further and initiate division, according to trtglobal.

Furthermore, the Turkish Foreign Minister highlighted the inadequacies of the American political system concerning its unyielding support for Israel. He indicated that this “special exception” harms not only the standing of the U.S. but complicates relations with its allies in the region, an assertion reflecting the issues Turkish officials see with current U.S. policies, according to aa and middleeasteye.

In a show of solidarity, Fidan emphasized Türkiye's unwavering support for Qatar, particularly following Israeli airstrikes that targeted Hamas members in Doha and resulted in casualties. He noted the “unshakable bond” between Türkiye and Qatar and reiterated Türkiye's determination to stand alongside Qatar during these challenging times. “We strongly support these initiatives,” Fidan stated, reflecting a commitment to regional partnerships even amidst conflict, according to trtglobal and aa.