Prisoner exchanges continue despite Israeli provocations, says Turkish president

ISTANBUL

Despite ongoing provocations from Israel, the exchange of prisoners and detainees between Israel and Hamas continues, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday.

Speaking following a Cabinet meeting, Erdogan said during his meeting with a Hamas delegation last week, he reiterated Türkiye's readiness to “do whatever is necessary to make the ceasefire agreement permanent.”

“The vast difference between the condition of prisoners released by Israel and the captives set free by Hamas is enough to see the difference in mentality,” he said, referring to the physical state of the people swapped as part of the prisoner exchange deal.

“We must not leave our brothers and sisters in Gaza alone during this period. I once again repeat my call to provide more support to the oppressed people of Gaza ahead of the holy month of Ramadan,” he added.

About Rwandan President Paul Kagame’s visit to Türkiye last month, Erdogan said that it marked the first official presidential-level visit from Rwanda to Türkiye.

"We crowned this visit with four agreements signed between Türkiye and Rwanda. We are committed to strengthening our cooperation with all African nations on the basis of a win-win approach and equal partnership. The historic summit and agreement between Ethiopia and Somalia, hosted by our country on Dec. 11, serve as a key reference point, showcasing our stance and credibility among African nations. we will continue to work with all our strength for peace, justice, and development."

The Turkish president also said that late last month, he discussed with Denis Zvizdic, the speaker of the House of Representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the current developments in the country and the Balkans.

He further added that his last month’s meetings with the foreign, trade, and transport ministers of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan underscored Türkiye’s commitment to strengthening cooperation within the Turkic world.

Tourism growth, safety concerns

Erdogan also recalled that Türkiye hosted 62.23 million visitors last year, with tourism revenues reaching a record $61.1 billion.

Emphasizing that the country surpassed its tourism targets in 2024, he said: "Our goal for 2025 in Tourism is to welcome 65 million visitors and generate $64 billion in revenue. Hopefully, we will soon reach the $100 billion mark. To achieve this, a shift in mindset is essential. An approach that does not give the necessary value to human life and dignity has no chance of success, especially in the tourism sector. For the sector to grow sustainably, eliminating weak links is not a choice but a necessity. I believe our tourism professionals will take the necessary lessons from the tragic Kartalkaya incident in Bolu, which has deeply saddened us all."

Referring to recent earthquakes on the Greek side of the Aegean, Erdogan said the tremors over the past few days once again remind that earthquake preparedness is a matter of national survival for Türkiye.

"We have no option but to swiftly make our cities, especially Istanbul, earthquake-resistant,” he said, reiterating that local administrations must now prioritize this issue and focus on preparing their cities through urban transformation projects.