Dr. Mustafa ÖZTOP / International Relations Expert
On May 24, 2024, I wrote an article titled “Stopping Israel is Now Possible” in the Thought Diary. In the article, I discussed the power-centric functioning of the international system, the notion that the powerful have the final say in world politics, and the difficulties faced by international organizations in making quick, fair decisions and taking concrete steps, which have become a major dilemma. I attempted to outline a roadmap for overcoming these crises. At that time, although reactions against Israel at the state level were quite limited, they had begun to emerge at the societal level. Despite Israel’s occupation since 1947, its crimes against humanity, and its massacres, these limited initial reactions were meaningful for the future, as the international community had previously been marked by deep silence, indifference, and apathy.
I emphasized that in an international system where the US, which unconditionally supports Israel, is the hegemonic actor, no state has the power to stop Israel on its own under the current conditions, and therefore, states that take concrete steps toward a humane policy against Israel despite all the difficulties must come together and form a power center. Because Israel can only be stopped if there is a power center that supports Palestine. Turkey does not yet have the power capacity to form such a center on its own.
In addition, I pointed out that there are serious differences in opinion and action on the Palestinian issue, especially among Muslim states, and that it is almost impossible for states with such differences, such as those comprising the D-8 and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, to come to a common decision around a table and take concrete steps. Taking this situation into account, I proposed that a smaller number of Muslim states with similar views on Palestine, which generally do not see each other as rivals and have the potential to work together harmoniously, come together in Istanbul to organize a “Peace Conference” to channel the global reactions against Israel at the state level. Since then, the growing reactions against Israel at the state level and the developments at the state level on a more regional basis, although not yet at the level of participation I mentioned in terms of a peace conference, have emerged as noteworthy developments in terms of the roadmap I was trying to draw.
Ten More Countries Have Officially Recognized Palestine
First, an example of a decision and concrete step taken by a single state came from Colombia, which severed diplomatic relations with Israel in late May in response to the genocide committed by Israel after October 7. Colombian President Gustavo Petro called on the United Nations to send a peacekeeping force to Gaza. In early June, Indonesia announced that it was ready to send a peacekeeping force to Gaza to ensure and sustain a ceasefire if requested by the UN. Malaysia has announced that it is ready to cooperate with Indonesia regarding its statement on sending a peacekeeping force. Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has declared that they will never give up on the Palestinian cause and are ready to support Gaza. Namibia has refused to allow a ship carrying weapons to Israel to enter its territorial waters. Yemen has struck Tel Aviv and many other locations with ballistic missile attacks. Nicaragua has severed all diplomatic ties with Israel. A Brazilian court has decided to investigate an Israeli army member responsible for the Gaza genocide who entered the country as a tourist. Mexico has officially recognized Palestine as a state. This brings the total number of countries that have recognized the State of Palestine to 147. The number of countries that have recognized Palestine as a state since October 7, 2023, has risen to 10. Malaysia has prepared a draft resolution proposing that Israel be expelled from the UN if it continues its violations.
Bahçeli Proposes Kudüs Pact
At the level of multiple states or organizations, the International Court of Justice has issued an advisory opinion stating that Israel must end its occupation of Palestinian territories as soon as possible, that it has no right to sovereignty over Palestinian territories, that it must compensate for all damages caused by its unjust practices, and that it has violated international law. In addition, MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli proposed a “Kudüs Pact” consisting of Turkey, Egypt, Iraq, and Syria for the sake of peace in the region. Following the Kudüs Pact proposal, the changes that took place in Syria at the end of the year and the overthrow of the Baath regime by the Syrian people, which changed the country’s administration, rapidly developed the possibilities of this pact. Under Turkey’s leadership, 52 countries, along with the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, requested the UN Security Council to take measures to stop the shipment of weapons and ammunition to Israel. In a vote held at the UN on November 14, 2024, 170 countries confirmed the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and to establish an independent state. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant.
New Alliance: The Hague Group
The Hague Group was formed by countries that support Palestine, including Belize, Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Honduras, Malaysia, Namibia, Senegal, and South Africa, with the aim of developing policies in solidarity with Palestine and against Israel. Representatives of these countries issued a joint statement at a meeting held in The Hague, describing Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide. Finally, on May 16, 2025, a group of European leaders from Spain, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Luxembourg, Malta, and Slovenia issued a joint statement declaring that they would not remain silent about the humanitarian disaster in Gaza and that they rejected attempts to forcibly change the demographics of the West Bank. Essentially, the Hague group and the group of European leaders include the vast majority of countries that have taken the lead in organizing reactions against Israel in the roadmap we drew up last year.
Will The Trump-Netanyahu Feud Be The Solution?
In addition, reports have recently surfaced in the press that Trump is seriously annoyed with Netanyahu. Trump wants to regain the mediating role that the US lost between Palestine and Israel during the Biden era and become a greater economic power by ending wars around the world and engaging in mediation and trade. The Iran, Houthi, Hamas, Russia-Ukraine, and India-Pakistan talks can be seen as indicators of this stance. Another aspect of Trump’s attitude toward Netanyahu can be interpreted as a competition over who controls the US. The question of whether the powerful Zionist lobby or Trump controls the US will be answered when it becomes clear who wins the tension between Trump and Netanyahu. On the other hand, even if Trump wins the war he has launched to sideline Netanyahu, it would be unrealistic to think that this outcome will bring lasting peace to Palestine. This is because it would be overly optimistic to expect the leaders who will come after Netanyahu to pursue a peaceful policy on Palestine, given the current reality in Israel. Furthermore, Trump’s inconsistent policies, his staunch support for Israel despite his reluctance to work with Netanyahu, and the uncertainty surrounding whether US policy toward Israel will align with that of the Biden administration in the post-Trump era make the prospect of peace in Palestine highly fragile. For these reasons, the formation of a new power center in the world and long-term political calculations would be more realistic for lasting peace in Palestine.
Alliances Are Formed In Response To Threats
In short, one of the main reasons why Israel’s massacres in Gaza cannot be stopped is the power imbalance between Israel and Palestine. This power imbalance, which led to genocide after October 7, stems from the unconditional support of the world’s hegemonic power, the US, for Israel and its complete withdrawal of support from Palestine. It is clear that the US has generally supported Israel since its establishment. However, after October 7, the US’s openly pro-Israel stance and its unilateral use of its hegemony in the international system have damaged its role as a leader and mediator in this process. Reactions against the US have increased.
The positions of countries that are anti-US and anti-Israel can be aligned with common goals against the power imbalance in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, in line with their own adopted positions. The balance of power between states is achieved by either lightening the heavy side or giving weight to the light side. It is difficult to lighten the US as the heavy side. However, it is possible to strengthen the weaker side, Palestine. Reactions against Israel have clearly increased worldwide, but this has not yet triggered the current international system. According to Waltz, states are compelled to side with the weaker party not because of power but because of the pursuit of security. Walt argues that alliances are formed not against power but against threats.
Istanbul Peace Conference
The public outcry against Israel, which grew rapidly after October 7, began to spread to the state level last year. This year, it has spread to the level of organizations and regional alliances. The next step must and is expected to be on a global scale. For these reasons, states that have taken concrete steps in response to Israel’s genocide in Gaza can take the lead in forming a HUMANITY ALLIANCE to emerge from this period of crisis that the world is going through. These countries will find the opportunity to act in a more organized, collective, and effective manner against Israel and its supporters through this alliance.
Turkey should take the initiative for a HUMANITY ALLIANCE with countries such as Malaysia, Pakistan, Indonesia, Algeria, and Qatar, which share a similar perspective on Palestine and, in general, have common threats and goals, no existential problems or historical rivalries, and reflect public support in their administrations. A concrete step is needed to stop Israel. It is possible for the Muslim countries mentioned above to organize a peace conference in Istanbul on stopping Israel and the freedom of Gaza. Other countries that raise their voices against Israel’s massacres and view the issue from a humanitarian perspective will also be invited to this conference, and it is likely that these countries will support such an initiative.
If such a conference is organized, the number of countries participating will increase in a short time. Actors such as China and Russia will also show interest in this formation. This conference will organize the growing global reaction against Israel and accelerate reform efforts in the current international system or open the discussion on the formation of a new community of nations. The key is to establish a structure capable of making swift, fair, concrete, and effective decisions on critical issues. There has never been a more suitable time or environment within the current international system than the present.
Source: https://www.yenisafak.com/dusunce-gunlugu/dunyanin-krizden-cikis-arayisi-insanlik-ittifaki-4711444
