Director of the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) İbrahim Kalın, held the 10th "World Without Center: Who Leads When the Rules Are Invalid?" at the Istanbul Congress Center this year. He spoke before the panel session titled "Gaza at the Intersection of International Law and Humanitarian Collapse" within the scope of TRT World Forum 2026, organized with the theme.
MİT President Kalın emphasized that politics is blind without morality, and morality is powerless without social and political authority, and stated that the world we live in now reflects some of these realities.
Pointing out that Gaza is a part of the story of the Palestinians, Kalın underlined that sometimes there is a tendency to separate the Gaza issue from the more comprehensive Palestinian issue, but Gaza is a part of Palestine, and Palestine is a part of the struggle for justice, dignity and equality for all.
Kalın pointed out that this struggle is not just for "a piece of land", but also for global and universal values and principles.
THE SEARCH FOR A MULTI-CENTRAL NEW WORLD ORDER
Pointing out that the world order is moving in different directions without a clear goal or route, Kalın stated that after the Western-centered, American and European-centered world order, a polycentric world order is sought.
Kalın stated that no one has any information about what form this order will take, and said, "What will be the alternative? Who will provide the moral, legal and humanitarian principles for this new world order to be built? What we have is a very chaotic, uncertain and unpredictable picture, and global governance is more inaccessible than ever." he said.
Pointing out that there is no solid ground on which to build, such as institutions, principles, ideas or social and political projects, Kalın said, "Palestine, where the collapse of the political order and the bankruptcy of moral responsibility destroyed the most basic foundations of being human, is undoubtedly one of the peaks of this trend. Of course, what is eroded and collapsed is not only institutions or (international) agreements, but the moral principles, foundations and rules that we believe to be universal. Gaza is a part of this story and cannot be considered separately from the story and memory of Palestine." he said.
"THE PROBLEM IS NOT PALESTINE, THE PROBLEM IS THE OCCUPATION"
Kalın pointed out that he does not find the terminology of "Palestine problem" correct and said, "The problem is not Palestine, the problem is the occupation, but unfortunately this situation has become an integral part of our daily language and terminology. We always say 'Palestinian problem' as if the problem is the Palestinians. This is not correct, the problem is the occupation. There will be no solution, peace and justice in the Middle East without ending the occupation." he said.
MİT President Kalın pointed out that they have seen a global awakening and a new rise in consciousness about the Palestine issue in recent years, and explained what Türkiye, as a mediator with Qatar and Egypt, has done to end the genocide and crisis in Gaza and the process.
Emphasizing that they will never give up their struggle for a two-state solution, Kalın said, "We believe that peace will come to the region only when the Palestinians gain their own state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Only then will justice for the Palestinians be manifested, and only then will a real peace with Israel be possible." made his assessment.
Stating that this is in the interest of all people in the Middle East, including Israelis, Kalın said that as MİT, they pay attention to these elements in their analysis and that Gaza and Palestine issues and the continuous occupation of these regions have the possibility of triggering another wave of radicalization.
Kalın stated that they are worried about this issue and said, "Because the more deaths and atrocities in Palestinian lands, the harsher or more radical the attitude will become. This is human nature." he said.
"THE NEW ERA OF AWAKENING ON THE PALESTINE ISSUE HAS STARTED"
Stating that something surprising happened at a time when there was great despair, darkness, helplessness, pain and suffering, and a light of hope appeared in the darkness, Kalın stated that a new era of awakening regarding the Palestinian issue has begun and that the genocide in Gaza revealed the limits of Israel's "occupation, displacement and demonization" policies.
Kalın pointed out that the global public opinion started to raise its voice and that this developed spontaneously and said, "Nobody imposed this on anyone. It sprouted in small communities in Europe, the United States and other parts of the world, in segments not traditionally associated with the Palestinian cause, and after a long time, the Palestine issue gained its global audience." he said.
Underlining that collective conscience has begun to emerge on a global scale, Kalın said that this situation covers all political diversity and social structure and goes beyond cultural and religious borders.
Kalın stated that this includes all kinds of people from all walks of life, and that this is a historical moment, perhaps a paradigm breaking point, not only in terms of the Palestinian issue but also in terms of global justice and peace.
"PEACE IN PALESTINE MEANS REGAINING THE MORAL AND POLITICAL ORDER WE LOST"
Stating that getting things back on track in Gaza and Palestine will be the starting point of bringing together the pieces of the collapsed international order, Kalın said:
"Perhaps it will lead to a global transformation in our perceptions, understanding and moral responsibility for the global order and the moral order it brings with it. Therefore, the struggle for peace, dignity and freedom in Palestine actually means regaining the moral and political order we have lost in a fragmented world."
Kalın pointed out that this should be a source of hope and inspiration for everyone, and said that they should continue their efforts to establish peace through justice in the Palestinian territories and from there to the rest of the Middle East, and from there to the whole world.
Stating that there are difficulties ahead and that it will not be easy, Kalın stated that they will see how the political environment will be shaped with the political changes following the elections in the USA and Israel.
Kalın added that he tends to be a little more hopeful that there may be a new political arrangement and restructuring on the Palestine issue.
