Baku: President Ilham Aliyev has clarified Azerbaijan's stance on participating in international missions in the Gaza Strip, stating unequivocally that the country will not risk the lives and health of its citizens for external conflicts.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, President Aliyev addressed the issue during an interview with local television channels. He expressed uncertainty about who would authorize such missions and their execution methods, highlighting that Azerbaijan has no plans to engage in 'peace enforcement' operations.

The President emphasized that sending Azerbaijani forces to engage in battles outside the nation's borders is not a consideration. He pointed out that during Azerbaijan's own times of crisis, external assistance was lacking. While expressing respect and sympathy for Palestine, he noted that Palestine did not provide any particular support to Azerbaijan in the past. Although there were supportive resolutions from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), President Aliyev underscored the importance of Arab countries resolving their own issues. He reiterated Azerbaijan's consistent support for Palestine, including the establishment of a Palestinian state, and noted the ongoing operation of the Palestinian Embassy in Azerbaijan with Azerbaijani financial support.