Pakistan, June 30 -- The Palestinian issue remains the main cause of instability in the Middle East, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, stressing that lasting peace cannot be achieved unless Israel ends its occupation of Palestinian territories. He called for a fair and permanent solution to the conflict.

Speaking at a NATO summit in Istanbul, Erdogan said the only viable solution is the two-state formula. He emphasized the need to establish an independent, sovereign, and fully recognized Palestinian state within the 1967 borders.

The Turkish president said the recent events in Gaza and Lebanon have left deep scars on humanity's conscience and damaged the credibility of international institutions. He added that Turkiye is clos...