Devlet Bahçeli, leader of Turkey’s far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and a key ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has sharply criticized what he described as a “triumphal” attitude toward a recent ceasefire in Gaza, saying it is premature to rejoice over limited prisoner exchanges while tens of thousands are dead.
“There is no point in beating drums and trumpets because of a few prisoner exchanges,” Bahçeli said in a speech to his MHP’s parliamentary group on Tuesday. He added that “the real issue is to make the ceasefire effective on the ground” and that its outcome “is not yet clear.”
Citing 67,173 deaths in Gaza, Bahçeli said the tragedy cannot be reduced to partial or symbolic gains. He lambasted what he labeled as treating the devastated enclave “as real estate” and preparing “Dubai-style projects,” in what appears to be a swipe at US President Donald Trump’s suggestion that Gaza could be rebuilt as a “Riviera of the Middle East” under American control.
The 77-year-old leader said Gaza “is the homeland of the innocent and wronged Palestinian people” and insisted that lasting peace depends on the creation of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital and full United Nations membership. “Until such a state is established,” he said, “it is futile to console ourselves with partial gains.”
His comments contrasted with President Erdoğan’s more upbeat tone in recent days.
Erdoğan has described the ceasefire, brokered by the United States, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, as a “historic step” and underlined Ankara’s role in the international task force monitoring its implementation.
The agreement, approved by Israel’s cabinet on October 10, halted fighting, allowed hostage-prisoner exchanges and opened channels for humanitarian aid into Gaza.