Baku: President Ilham Aliyev has declared that Azerbaijan has no intention of risking the lives and health of its citizens for international missions in the Gaza Strip. In an interview with local television channels, the President addressed reports suggesting Azerbaijan's potential involvement in such missions.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, President Aliyev emphasized the ambiguity surrounding who would mandate these missions and the manner in which they would be executed. He clearly stated that Azerbaijan does not intend to engage in 'peace enforcement' operations. He reiterated his stance by saying, "Participation in battles outside Azerbaijan's borders is not envisaged by me at all."

The President further explained that Azerbaijan has no desire to endanger the lives and health of its citizens for external causes. Reflecting on past experiences, he noted, "When we were in trouble, we were left to our own fate. No one protected us." He also remarked that despite Azerbaijan's consistent support for Palestine in international forums, Palestine did not particularly extend similar support to Azerbaijan.

President Aliyev acknowledged resolutions from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) that were backed by all member countries, including Azerbaijan. He expressed gratitude for these gestures while highlighting Azerbaijan's continuous support for Palestine and the establishment of a Palestinian state. This support is evident through Azerbaijan's backing in the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the OIC, as well as the operation of the Palestinian Embassy in Azerbaijan with Azerbaijani financial assistance.

In conclusion, President Aliyev maintained his belief that the issues of Arab countries should be resolved by the Arab countries themselves.