Erdogan and Abbas discuss the status of Palestine in Ankara

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosted Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ankara on August 12, 2026. During a joint press conference, Erdogan accused the Israeli government under Benjamin Netanyahu of attempting to remove the Palestinian issue from the global agenda by exploiting regional chaos and ongoing conflicts. He affirmed that Turkey remains committed to supporting the Palestinian cause on every international platform.

Mahmoud Abbas responded by stating that a just peace is only achievable if the Israeli occupation ends and an independent Palestinian state is established with East Jerusalem as its capital. Erdogan further criticized the current Israeli administration for what he described as persistent aggressive behavior, despite the constructive attitude displayed by the Palestinian side. Both leaders emphasized their unwavering stance on the necessity of Palestinian sovereignty.