The R4 countries reacted to Israel’s policies and called for a two-state solution in a joint statement issued in Istanbul. The statement was released following the meeting. The foreign ministers of the R4 Group issued the joint statement after the meeting in Istanbul and noted that the R4 Group consists of the following countries: Türkiye, Egypt, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia. The group is made up of these countries.
In the statement, the Israeli occupation was described as one of the main sources of instability in the region and beyond. A call was made for a two-state solution. The ministers reiterated their commitment to contributing to peace and stability in line with the UN Charter and emphasized that the State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital, should be independent and sovereign on the basis of the June 4, 1967 borders. Palestine’s geographic integrity was also emphasized. The settlements in the West Bank and Jerusalem, as well as settler violence, were condemned. The statement also noted the need for the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza and the need for the reconstruction of the region.
The statement also condemned the Houthis’ attacks on Saudi Arabia and their actions targeting commercial vessels in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb. The Houthis were called on to halt their attacks and return to the political process. It called for the conflicts between the US, Israel, and Iran to be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. Support for the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding was reiterated. It was noted that the security of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is of vital importance and that disruptions to maritime transport threaten global supply chains.
Why it matters
The gathering of Türkiye, Egypt, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia around the same declaration in Istanbul shows that the Palestinian issue is being addressed within the same framework as the attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, actions targeting Saudi Arabia, and the Iran-Israel-US tension. The four countries’ convergence on the formula of a Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital demonstrates that this framework continues to serve as a common reference in regional diplomacy. Linking the security of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz to global supply chains elevates the text to a level that concerns not only regional capitals but also economies dependent on maritime trade. The reiteration of support for the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding shows that the quartet’s agenda is not limited to Gaza but also encompasses the Yemen and Iran files. The declaration’s lack of an implementation mechanism beyond the language of calls and condemnations, however, leaves open the question of whether the commitments will find traction on the ground.
Background
Israel is not a new name in the FikirPilot archive: we have published 36 stories mentioning this name in the last 90 days; the most recent is dated October 23, 2026.