Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan Call for Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as Capital

The foreign ministers of Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan — known as the R4 group — issued a joint statement following their meeting in Istanbul, in which they called for the establishment of an independent, sovereign Palestinian state on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The ministers affirmed in the statement their support for the Palestinian people's right to self-determination, and called for an end to settlement activities in the West Bank and Jerusalem, cessation of violence perpetrated by settlers against Palestinians, as well as a halt to all efforts aimed at changing the legal and historical status of Jerusalem.

Regarding Gaza, the statement stressed the necessity of uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid and the immediate launch of reconstruction efforts.

On Yemen, the ministers condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, particularly those targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, and called for an end to attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and the Strait of Bab al-Mandab, urging the Houthis to cease their military operations and return to the political track.

The statement addressed military tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran, emphasizing the necessity of resolving disputes through dialogue and diplomacy, while underscoring the importance of not targeting civilians, civilian infrastructure, and vessels. In this context, the ministers reaffirmed their support for the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.

The statement highlighted the importance of maritime safety in the Strait of Hormuz for the global economy, warning that any disruption in sea lanes would negatively affect global supplies of energy, fertilizer, and food, while demanding the preservation of international shipping security and ensuring free passage through the strait.

The foreign ministers of the R4 nations agreed to continue diplomatic contacts and mutual consultation on all matters raised by the statement.