Addressing an event on Monday in Istanbul, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan decried Israel’s violation of the cease-fire with Hamas, noting that Israel killed more than "200 innocent people” since the beginning of the truce.
The president told The Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC) of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) that the plan for Gaza’s reconstruction should be launched immediately, and aid delivery and rebuilding should start as soon as possible. He hailed Hamas for adhering to the cease-fire but warned that Israel had a bad track record in terms of commitment to the cease-fire.
Erdoğan also denounced the situation in Sudan. “Massacres of civilians are not acceptable. The Islamic world has a responsibility to stop bloodshed,” he said.
Türkiye bolstered its ties with Muslim and Arab countries over the past two decades of the leadership of Erdoğan as prime minister and later president. Erdoğan also champions the Palestinian cause and is the most vocal opponent of the Israeli administration engaged in war crimes against Palestinians since October 2023.
"We are going through a challenging period in the Islamic world, a period where our conscience and resilience are tested. It is time for us to unite better and tackle the issues with more determination and common sense," he said. Erdoğan quoted a hadith by Prophet Muhammad and said Muslims should be part of "a solid building resilient to tremors and attacks," he said.
He lamented that Gaza was the scene of one of the most barbaric genocides of the century. "More than 70,000 Palestinians, mostly children and women, were massacred by occupying Israeli forces. Some 170,000 brothers and sisters were injured. Gaza is a giant rubble now and we still have martyrs buried under the debris. We are also talking about devastation with an economic toll amounting to tens of billions of dollars. Even after the rubble is removed, traces of the trauma of innocent children whose parents were slaughtered before their very eyes will probably never end. The wounds that the inaction of international bodies left in the hearts of Gaza will likely never heal. This brutality and genocide will never be forgotten," he said.
The president reiterated that Türkiye has demonstrated the strongest reaction to the genocide since it began and stood against the oppressors, both with their action in international platforms (to stop Israel), legal steps and delivering more than 102,000 tons of humanitarian aid.
Erdoğan said Türkiye exerted efforts for a lasting cease-fire and a fair peace, and kept the oppression Palestinians suffered in the spotlight, by working together with conscious members of the international community, with the OIC and Arab League. He noted that they have been reaping the results of these efforts, pointing to the latest instance of a cease-fire after Hamas-Israel talks hosted by Egypt. He thanked Qatar, Egypt and regional countries for contributing to the cease-fire talks. He also thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for his will to ensure a cease-fire.
"Hamas is apparently resolved in its commitment to a cease-fire, but we see Israel has a bad track record. They make up excuses and have killed more than 200 innocent people since the cease-fire came into force. They did not cease occupation and attacks targeting the West Bank. These attacks target civilians and the peace, but they would never hinder efforts to find a fair and lasting solution to this matter," he said.
Erdoğan said they have to deliver more humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza and subsequently launch the rebuilding process, but the Israeli government did its best to prevent this as well. "The OIC and COMCEC must play a leading role in Gaza's recovery. We cannot allow annexation of the West Bank, we cannot allow a change in the status of Jerusalem, nor can we allow desecration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque," Erdoğan said.
On the conflict in Sudan, Erdoğan decried the massacre of civilians in Al-Fasher. "No one with a heart can accept this. The Islamic world has the greatest responsibility to stop the bloodshed in Sudan. Muslims should not look for others to resolve their problems. We have to be able to resolve our problems on our own. We have to protect the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Sudan. It is crucial to stand with the people of Sudan in these difficult days and provide them with humanitarian aid and development support. I believe all member countries will do their best to restore peace and security in Sudan," he said.
The president also welcomed a delegation from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) attending the event, calling Turkish Cypriots an inseparable part of the Islamic world. He said Turkish Cypriots have faced "unfair, unlawful and ruthless isolation for decades" because of their identity, but have continued resisting pressure. He warned of what he called new regional plans targeting Cyprus, saying the island is being drawn into "a new imperialist game." He called on OIC members to support the Turkish Cypriot struggle based on a two-state solution and vowed Ankara would continue backing them. Türkiye is a guarantor state in the decades-old Cyprus question and stepped up efforts for international recognition of the TRNC. Former Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar lost last month's elections on the island, fueling rumors that the new administration would shift the TRNC's policies, namely, opposition to a federation on the island. The TRNC's new president, Tufan Erhürman, however, has pledged to coordinate foreign policy issues with Türkiye. Türkiye is also concerned about an escalation of relations between the Greek Cypriot administration and Israel, which has increased its cooperation, especially in defense, with the Greek Cypriots.
