9 Outcomes of the Third Conference of Palestinians in Turkey
The Third
Conference of Palestinians in Turkey wrapped up its proceedings on Sunday, May
18, 2026, issuing a final statement reaffirming the Palestinian people's
commitment to their firm national rights — amid what the conference described
as the most dangerous phase in the history of the Palestinian cause, as the war
of genocide, starvation, and displacement against the people of Gaza continues,
alongside escalating settlement activity and Judaization in the occupied West
Bank and Jerusalem.
To
confront these existential challenges, and in affirmation of the Palestinian
people's right to self-determination, the conference outlined in its final
statement 9 key national pillars and tracks for the coming phase, as follows:
1. Upholding Palestinian National Unity
The
statement stressed that Palestinian national unity represents the cornerstone
of protecting the Palestinian national project, calling for the unification of
Palestinian ranks on the basis of full national partnership, and the rebuilding
of Palestine Liberation Organization institutions on democratic and inclusive
representative foundations, as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian
people.
2. Rejecting Projects Aimed at Liquidating the Palestinian Cause
The
conference categorically rejected all political and colonial projects targeting
the liquidation of the Palestinian cause or the bypassing of the Palestinian
people's national and historical rights under any guise, affirming that
Palestine is a land, a people, and holy sites, and that the Palestinian people
alone hold the right to self-determination.
3. Jerusalem as the Compass of the Cause
The
conference affirmed that Jerusalem will remain the compass of the Palestinian
cause and the embodiment of national and religious identity, warning of the
dangers of Judaization projects and the temporal and spatial partition of
Al-Aqsa Mosque, as well as the ongoing violations led by settlers under the
protection of the occupation government.
4. Confronting the Colonial Settlement Project
The
conference also declared its full solidarity with the people of Gaza in facing
aggression, siege, and forced displacement policies, calling for strengthening
the steadfastness of the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Jerusalem, and
supporting humanitarian and national initiatives aimed at keeping Palestinians
rooted in their land.
The
conference further affirmed that the settlement project in the occupied West
Bank and Jerusalem constitutes an extension of a replacement colonial project
aimed at uprooting the Palestinian people from their land and erasing their
national and historical identity.
5. Upholding the Right of Return and Protecting UNRWA
On the
refugee file, the conference renewed its commitment to the right of return in
accordance with UN Resolution 194, affirming that UNRWA represents an
international witness to the Palestinian refugee cause and their national
rights, while saluting the steadfastness of the Palestinian people in refugee
camps and across the diaspora.
6. Captives — A Central National Cause
The
statement also dedicated a section to the issue of Palestinian captives,
affirming that it is a central national cause that must remain present in all
Palestinian political, cultural, and media activities and events, in
recognition of the captives' sacrifices and steadfastness inside occupation
prisons.
7. Activating the Popular, Political, and Legal Track to Hold
the Occupation Accountable
The
conference called for activating popular, political, and legal tracks in Turkey
and around the world to hold the occupation accountable for war crimes and
genocide, commending the official and popular Turkish stances in support of
Palestine, and extending greetings to the free people of the world and to
solidarity initiatives aimed at breaking the siege on Gaza.
8. Strengthening the Elements of National Steadfastness
The
conference called for adopting a comprehensive national steadfastness strategy
in which Palestinians in Turkey play an active role, built on the following
pillars:
First:
Affirming that the struggle against the occupation is a battle of awareness and
identity — requiring the reinforcement of the Palestinian narrative, the
leveraging of growing international sympathy, and the countering of
misinformation and distortion of facts.
Second:
Activating the role of all segments of the Palestinian diaspora in supporting
the national project, keeping the cause of the heroic captives at the top of
priorities, in coordination with all official and civil frameworks.
Third: Calling
for support of the Palestinian economy in cooperation with specialized Turkish
institutions and bodies, contributing to strengthening the foundations of
resilience and self-reliance.
9. The Pledge to Continue the Struggle and Affirm Constant
Principles
The
statement concluded by affirming that the Palestinian people, despite the
Nakba, occupation, and displacement they have endured, remain steadfast in
their right to freedom, return, and independence, renewing the pledge to
continue joint national work in defense of Palestine — its land, its people,
and its holy sites.
The
conference closed its statement by reaffirming the Palestinian national
constants, foremost among them ending the occupation, the right of return,
self-determination, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state
with Jerusalem as its capital.
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