section_path: Political positions/Foreign policy
section_name: Foreign policy
paragraph_text: Foreign policy
  
  Since he was elected the Mayor of Istanbul, İmamoğlu sought to effectively revitalise the bleak ties with the European Union. Advocating for the accession of Turkey into the EU, he considers the union a "democratic peace project" and states that it is the proof nations can unite and stand in solidarity, no matter the differences in ethnicity, language, or religion. However, he was often critical of the EU's stance on Turkey ─ remarking that the union ignores the nearing change in Turkey, İmamoğlu mentioned the lack of cooperation with the democrats. Over the years, his speeches at the Council of Europe drew attention to the EU migration policy. İmamoğlu asserted that the model to "export" migrants to third-party countries, referring to Turkey, is a contradiction of European values, and thus invited the EU to "share of burden" and implement a definitive solution ─ ensuring political stability and prosperity in the origin countries through international collaboration.
  
  Amidst the Gaza war in April 2024, İmamoğlu criticised the "brutal oppression" of Palestinians, and called for an end to the violence against innocent Palestinians, including women and children. He unambiguously condemned Hamas in a public statement labeling the group a "terrorist organization." In an interview with CNN, İmamoğlu expressed his sorrow over the October 7 attacks carried out by Hamas in Israel, stating that any group responsible for organized terrorist attacks and mass killings should be considered a terrorist organization.