The extraordinary general session of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye on Gaza was held on 29 August 2025 at the call of TBMM Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş. During the meeting, which addressed Israel’s attacks on Gaza and its policies of genocide, oppression and famine against the Palestinian people, the Speaker’s memorandum was adopted unanimously. Israel’s occupation and genocide policies were condemned, and a call was made to parliaments worldwide to terminate military and commercial relations with Israel.
Call for the Meeting
On 27 August 2025, TBMM Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş issued a statement calling the Assembly to an extraordinary session on Gaza. The call was made in accordance with Article 93 of the Constitution and Article 7 of the Internal Regulations of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye. Furthermore, the decision to convene the extraordinary session was taken following a request by the executive branch under the second paragraph of Article 59 of the Internal Regulations.
According to the official agenda published by the TBMM Presidency, the extraordinary session was held on Friday 29 August 2025 at 14:00. The agenda included the Presidency’s statements to the General Assembly, items on the special agenda, elections, matters to be put to vote, reports of parliamentary investigations, general debates, preliminary consultations on parliamentary inquiries, and legislative proposals and other matters submitted by committees.
The call for the meeting explicitly stated the purpose of evaluating Israel’s attacks on Gaza, the genocide and oppression against the Palestinian people, the famine policies implemented in the region, and the current situation. It was also anticipated that Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan would brief the General Assembly during the extraordinary session.
Speech by TBMM Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş
The TBMM General Assembly convened on 29 August 2025 under the chairmanship of Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş. An electronic roll call at the opening confirmed the presence of a quorum. Subsequently, the Speaker’s memorandum regarding the extraordinary session was read out before the General Assembly.
In his opening remarks and throughout the session, TBMM Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş addressed Israel’s attacks in Gaza, its actions against the Palestinian people, and the responsibilities of the international community. Kurtulmuş began his speech by defining Israel’s actions in Gaza, stating: “Israel continues its crimes against humanity by deciding to expand its military operation in Gaza. Every action taken by Israel on occupied Palestinian territories constitutes a violation of international law, a war crime and genocide.”
In the continuation of his speech, he provided a detailed account of the humanitarian situation in Gaza, with particular emphasis on the collapse of the healthcare system. “Of the 36 hospitals in Gaza, 33 have been either completely destroyed or severely damaged. In effect, healthcare services in Gaza have ceased to exist.” He also recalled the recent attack on Al-Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, saying: “Dozens of innocent people including patients, healthcare workers and international media personnel were killed in full view of the world.”
Kurtulmuş highlighted that Israel is using hunger as a weapon, stating: “Famine and scarcity have been used for months as a method of extermination against innocent civilians. Even food aid convoys have been turned into death traps by Zionist barbarians.” He therefore emphasized the urgent need for the international community to take concrete steps to establish a lasting ceasefire, compel Israel to withdraw its occupation forces from the region, and contribute to the reconstruction of Gaza.
Kurtulmuş also referred to illegal settlement activities in Jerusalem and the West Bank, stating that Israel has accelerated its occupation and destruction in these areas, and that new settlement projects aimed at separating East Jerusalem from the West Bank have provoked widespread international condemnation. In this context, he reiterated: “In sum, every action taken by Israel on occupied Palestinian territories is a clear violation of international law, a war crime and genocide.”
The Speaker of the Grand National Assembly has also brought to light the growing international outcry. “Against this gang of criminals, the front of humanity is raising its voice without distinction of language, religion, race or geography. Almost every country in the world, every capital, is denouncing Zionist Israel.” He stated that global protests are intensifying. He further noted that some Western countries are preparing to recognize Palestine and that sanctions against Israel have come onto the agenda.
Kurtulmuş, recalling past decisions and initiatives taken by the Grand National Assembly, expressed Türkiye’s support for the Palestinian cause as follows: “During Türkiye’s intervention in the case brought by the Republic of South Africa at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, our Assembly provided active contributions. Our Assembly supports the Inter-Parliamentary Jerusalem Platform. This year, in April, under the leadership of the Grand National Assembly, we established in Istanbul the ‘Group of Parliaments Supporting Palestine,’ which is poised to become one of the leading institutional actors in the international struggle for Palestine.”
Finally, Kurtulmuş emphasized that the Grand National Assembly has made a strong appeal to the international community, stating: “We have now reached the point where words are over. Before our very eyes, a people—with its women, children, elderly and youth—is being slaughtered and even condemned to death by starvation. Today, I propose to the international community that concrete steps be taken immediately and that the membership of all international organizations, including the United Nations, be suspended until Israel abandons its genocide policies.”
Kurtulmuş reiterated that the Palestinian issue is a national cause for Türkiye, saying: “Defending the just cause of the innocent and oppressed Palestinian people is a humanitarian, Islamic and historical responsibility for us. Regardless of what anyone may say, the Palestinian cause is a national cause for us, for Türkiye, for our nation. Hereby, I once again pledge that the Grand National Assembly will continue to support this struggle until a fully free and sovereign Palestinian State is established.”
Briefing by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to the Plenary Session
At the extraordinary plenary session, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan delivered a comprehensive presentation to members of parliament on Israel’s attacks on Gaza, the genocide and oppression inflicted upon the Palestinian people, and the famine policies being pursued in the region.
Fidan described the gravity of the situation in Gaza as follows: “For two years, Israel has been committing genocide in Gaza, disregarding fundamental human values before the eyes of the world.” He stated that the genocide in Gaza has deepened further, that de facto annexation steps have begun in the West Bank, that tensions along the Iran-Israel border have escalated into a 12-day war, and that attacks have spilled over into Lebanon and Syria. He also noted that provocations targeting holy sites in East Jerusalem, particularly Al-Aqsa Mosque, are increasing and that this constitutes a serious turning point of profound concern for both Türkiye and the future of the region.
Fidan characterized Israel’s famine policies in Gaza as “one of the darkest chapters in the history of humanity” and stated: “The brutality committed in Gaza has already been recorded as one of the darkest chapters in human history.” He emphasized that Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure has reached the brink of collapse and that starvation and scarcity are being deliberately used as methods of extermination. In this context, he underscored that the resistance waged by Palestinians against the Israeli military is a vital act of defiance on behalf of humanity: “But the greatest resistance is just beginning. Perhaps this bloodshed will not cease immediately. Yet I am certain that this sacred resistance will alter the course of history, become the symbol of the oppressed, and dislodge the foundations of a decaying order.”
Türkiye’s measures against Israel were also presented to the plenary session. Fidan explained that Türkiye has severed all commercial ties with Israel and is the only country in the world to have taken such a step: “No other country has taken a step further than Türkiye in terms of sanctions. We have completely halted all trade with Israel. We have closed our ports to Israeli ships. We do not permit Turkish vessels to enter Israeli ports. No other country has fully cut off trade with Israel.” He also stated that container ships carrying arms and ammunition to Israel are barred from entering Turkish ports and that aircraft bound for Israel are not permitted to fly through Turkish airspace.
Fidan summarized Türkiye’s approach to the Palestinian cause as follows: “As Türkiye, we oppose any plan that seeks to displace the Palestinian people from Gaza regardless of its form or name. Any such plan, no matter who proposes it, is null and void in our view.” He further warned that Israel’s reckless attacks will not remain confined to the Palestinians but will ignite the entire region: “If Israel’s reckless attacks in Gaza and elsewhere in Palestine are allowed to continue, they will not remain confined to the Palestinians but will set fire to the entire region.”
Statement by TBMM Justice Committee Chairman Cüneyt Yüksel
Taking the floor during the extraordinary session, Cüneyt Yüksel, Chairman of the TBMM Justice Committee and AK Party Member of Parliament for Istanbul, described the developments in Gaza as one of the gravest tragedies in human history. He stated the purpose of the meeting as follows: “We have not gathered here today merely to discuss a political issue or to make grand speeches. Today, we have come together under the roof of this honored Assembly to speak about one of the greatest injustices in human history, one of the deepest wounds to conscience—the brutality in Gaza and the genocide and oppression inflicted by Israel upon the Palestinian people—by invoking the will and conscience of our nation.”
Yüksel pointed out that the roots of Israel’s violent policies since 7 October extend back to 1948, highlighting the continuity of these attacks. In this context, he stated: “The failure to hold Israel accountable for its years of aggression has emboldened it to escalate to violence, massacres and genocide. In fact, since its founding, Israel has been committing genocide with impunity.”
Yüksel, from the podium, displayed photographs of children in Gaza to highlight the humanitarian crisis, describing the famine and destruction as follows: “When children in Gaza die of hunger, which conscience can sleep peacefully? When mothers in Gaza bury their children in the earth, which heart does not ache? The hunger and devastation in Gaza do not target only one people but the dignity of all humanity.”
Yüksel also stated that the so-called humanitarian aid mechanisms supported by Israel and the United States are being used to legitimize the occupation. In this context, he said: “The so-called ‘Gaza Humanitarian Aid Foundation’ backed by Israel and the United States is a complete failure. Israel has turned aid into a weapon of war, a zone of death.”
Addressing regional instability in his speech, Yüksel emphasized that the tensions Israel is attempting to create in Syria, Lebanon, and Iran will make the entire region more volatile. He added: “A geography dominated by terrorism, violence, and instability is never acceptable to us. Therefore, a Turkey free of terrorism and a region free of terrorism are vital to us. Striving to elevate the effort to strengthen our domestic front and preserve our unity and solidarity to the highest level is one of the greatest responsibilities of this noble Assembly.”
Yüksel also provided information on Türkiye’s support for the international legal process, making the following assessment regarding the International Court of Justice: “Türkiye has supported the proceedings at the International Court of Justice by submitting written and oral statements concerning Israel’s practices in the occupied Palestinian territories and its legal responsibilities toward the United Nations and other international organizations. We anticipate that the International Court of Justice will issue its ruling in the coming months.”
At the end of his speech, Yüksel delivered a message of unity on the Palestinian cause, stating: “For our country, for the Palestinian people, and for the international community, the time is now for unity. Palestine is not alone, Gaza is not alone, Jerusalem is not without a homeland. Palestine will one day be free, and Türkiye will forever be its voice.”
Speech by Hasan Turan, Chairman of the Türkiye-Palestine Friendship Group of the TBMM
Hasan Turan, Chairman of the Türkiye-Palestine Parliamentary Friendship Group of the TBMM and AK Party Member of Parliament for Istanbul, defined the Palestinian issue as a national matter for Türkiye in his speech during the extraordinary session. Turan began his address with these words: “The Palestinian issue is our national cause. It is our common point. Türkiye is Palestine, and Palestine is Türkiye.”
Turan emphasized that Türkiye has historically served Jerusalem and its surrounding sacred lands, and stressed that embracing the struggle of the Palestinian people is the duty of this Assembly. In this regard, he said: “Today, from here—from the Assembly of the nation that has served Jerusalem and its blessed lands for centuries—from the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, we declare that the just struggle, resistance, and cause of the Palestinian people are our own struggle and our own cause.”
In his speech, Turan characterized Israel’s attacks as “acts of Zionist gangs devoid of mercy and morality,” and noted that the Palestinian struggle is not merely about defending land but also about defending the conscience of humanity. He emphasized this point by saying: “They are not only defending their land; they are defending the conscience of humanity at its last bastion.”
Hasan Turan drew attention to the fact that Israel’s power derives from global support. He summarized the situation by stating: “It is clear that Israel’s power comes from global Zionist capital, from the Western states it has taken captive, and from imperialist powers. The unlimited support provided by the United States and Europe emboldens Israel to shed blood. Unfortunately, the silence, disunity, and ineffectiveness of the Islamic world further encourage this audacity.” He also noted that some European Union countries have initiated actions in favor of Palestine: “How strange and painful it is that while many countries in our region, other than Türkiye, remain silent and mute toward the just cause of the Palestinian people, EU countries such as Spain and Ireland are calling for a UN military intervention in Gaza.”
In a section of his speech, Turan addressed criticisms from the opposition and defended the stance of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the Palestinian cause. Recalling Erdoğan’s 2009 walkout at Davos, during which he confronted the Israeli president, Turan said: “Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is the leader who, in 2009, in front of the world’s eyes and before the leader of Zionist killers, said ‘One minute’ and exposed them as murderers.” He also recalled Erdoğan’s remarks regarding Hamas, explaining: “Hamas is not a terrorist organization; it is an army of mujahideen, a Kuvayımilliye striving to liberate its homeland and its nation.”
Turan concluded his speech by asserting that the Palestinian cause must transcend politics. In this context, he said: “Exploiting the blood of the oppressed for cheap politics is not the business of politics. This is the greatest injustice committed against Gaza and its suffering people.” Thus, he underscored the importance of a shared sensitivity beyond political disputes.
General Assembly Debates
During the extraordinary session, debates took place among representatives of different political parties. TBMM Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş intervened to prevent the debates from escalating to a level that would disrupt the Assembly’s order.
During Hasan Turan’s speech, Kurtulmuş intervened after DEM Party Kocaeli Member of Parliament Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu spoke from his seat, saying, “There is no such form of address. If you want to hold a rally, go outside and hold it there. You cannot disrupt the harmony of the Parliament. Do not hold such a cheap rally here on such a day. If you are speaking on behalf of your group, speak; if you are speaking from your seat, speak—but you cannot hold a separate rally. This is the Grand National Assembly; sit where you are seated.” Following this exchange, the session was suspended.
After the break, Bülent Kaya, Group Chair of the Yeni Yol Party, criticized the language Turan used against the opposition. Murat Emir, Deputy Chair of the CHP Group, then took the floor to voice criticisms of the government, stating, “If you have that much courage, step out today and say, ‘We do not recognize Israel.’ What are you waiting for? Do not recognize Israel.”
In response to these statements, Abdullah Güler, Group Chair of the AK Party, took the floor and emphasized that the Palestinian issue must not be turned into a political polemic. Güler said, “Palestine is Jerusalem. Jerusalem is entrusted to us. We have said that Palestine and Jerusalem are matters above politics and must not be used as anyone’s political property. We also wish for them to remain so, but unfortunately you have personalized the issue. We are not in competition with anyone. Do not settle your own accounts here through Palestine or Jerusalem.”
Presidency Memorandum and Adoption Process
Following discussions in the Extraordinary General Assembly, the Presidency Memorandum bearing the signature of TBMM Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş was read. The memorandum emphasized that Israel’s long-standing policies of occupation, destruction, and annexation against the Palestinian people have, over the past two years, especially in Gaza, transformed into genocide. The document states: “The genocidal Netanyahu government’s deliberate imposition of hunger and scarcity upon the people of Gaza has been documented by the United Nations and other international organizations. Israel, by deciding to expand its occupation operations in Gaza and continuing its massacres and oppression, has killed nearly 70,000 people over the past two years, the vast majority of whom were women and children, and injured more than 150,000, while destroying the region’s civilian infrastructure.”
The memorandum also issued comprehensive appeals to the international public. The Grand National Assembly of Türkiye recorded its condemnation of Israel’s actions and its following demands:
- Israel’s acceptance of a permanent ceasefire in Gaza,
- Withdrawal of its armed forces from the region,
- Ensuring uninterrupted humanitarian aid to Gaza,
- Halting illegal settlement activities in Jerusalem and the West Bank,
- Bringing those responsible for genocide and colonial crimes to justice before courts,
- Establishment of an independent, sovereign, and geographically contiguous Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders,
- Ending attacks on holy sites, beginning with Al-Aqsa Mosque,
- Suspending Israel’s memberships in the United Nations and other international organizations until it abandons its genocidal policies.
The TBMM also issued a direct appeal to parliaments worldwide: “We call upon all national parliaments to immediately act to terminate all military and commercial relations with Israel, break the embargo imposed on the Palestinian people, reject and condemn Israel’s genocidal and colonial policies in the occupied Palestinian territories, defend the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, uphold the two-state solution, and invite countries that do not recognize Palestine to recognize the State of Palestine.”
As a result of the vote, the Presidency Memorandum was adopted unanimously by the TBMM General Assembly. A total of 442 members of parliament participated in the vote. Following the vote, TBMM Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş stated, “After reading the text, you will see once again how powerful it is. An exceptionally powerful text has been produced.”
The adopted resolution, titled “Decision of the TBMM on Israel’s Decision to Expand the Occupation of Gaza and the Genocide Against the Palestinian People,” has entered into force by being published in the Official Gazette.
