Türkiye’s foreign minister described Israel as the “elephant in the room” during talks in Doha, as Qatar and Türkiye called for de-escalation in Gaza, Lebanon and the Iran conflict.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan described Israel as the “elephant in the room” as he criticised its ongoing military actions and expansion of settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.
“The issue here is Israel. Israel is increasingly being described by everyone as the elephant in the room. At a time when people are coming together to discuss peace, diplomacy, dialogue, and solutions, Israel continues to further aggravate all problems through violence and expansionism,” Fidan told a press conference in Doha on Tuesday.
“The policies Israel is pursuing are no longer just a regional security issue. They have become a global problem, a matter of international security,” he added.
The press conference was held at the Amiri Diwan Annex alongside Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
Earlier, Fidan met Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at Lusail Palace, where discussions focused on bilateral relations and regional developments. Talks also addressed the ceasefire between the United States and Iran and ongoing efforts to reduce regional escalation.
During the press conference, Sheikh Mohammed said discussions with Fidan also covered Israel’s repeated violations in the region, including the latest escalation in Gaza and continued attacks on Lebanon.
“We also discussed other regional issues, such as the recent escalation in the Gaza Strip, especially the ongoing Israeli actions of bombing civilians there[…]and the continued use of humanitarian aid as a tool for political blackmail,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
“We discussed the lack of respect for the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, the continued Israeli bombardment of villages and residential neighbourhoods, and the repeated threats from the Israeli side urging the brotherly Lebanese people to evacuate innocent civilians from their homes,” he added.
Fidan’s visit to Qatar followed an earlier trip in March during the US-Israel war on Iran. His latest visit comes amid an extended ceasefire initially brokered by Pakistan on 8 April for two weeks.
However, tensions between the sides remain a major international concern, with diplomatic efforts continuing to secure a comprehensive ceasefire. Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz has also remained a key issue due to its impact on global maritime navigation and energy supplies.
The Strait handles roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas trade.
“Regarding the war with Iran, Qatar and Türkiye jointly support the Pakistani mediation efforts and the initiatives undertaken by our brotherly Pakistan to find a solution to this war, reach a ceasefire, end this war as quickly as possible, and reopen the Strait, allowing freedom of navigation to return to normal once again,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
“We also continue to coordinate with our partners and brothers in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and the countries of the region so that we can reach the best formula to restore stability to the region,” he added.