Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
In a searing address to the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held up an image of starving children in Gaza, accusing Israel of committing a prolonged genocide against Palestinians and calling on the international community to break its silence.
Speaking on Tuesday at the UN headquarters in New York, Erdoğan lamented the absence of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas at this year’s summit, and urged all nations that have yet to recognize the State of Palestine to do so without delay.
“We are witnessing one of the darkest chapters of modern history,” Erdoğan said, directing his remarks at a global audience of diplomats, world leaders, and international observers. “What is happening in Gaza is not a conflict. It is a genocide that has been unfolding before the world’s eyes for more than 700 days.”
“This Is a Genocide, Not a War on Terror”
Brandishing a photo of malnourished children in Gaza victims, he said, of Israel’s crippling blockade—Erdoğan described the situation in the besieged enclave as a humanitarian catastrophe deliberately engineered by the Israeli government.
“More than 20,000 children have been killed,” he said. “The people of Gaza are not only being killed by weapons but also by hunger. This is systematic, and there is no logic that can justify such brutality.”
Erdoğan’s speech painted a harrowing picture of life under siege in Gaza, where hospitals have collapsed, medical supplies are exhausted, and food scarcity is rampant. He described a healthcare system on the brink of total failure, noting that children’s limbs are being amputated without anesthesia.
“This genocide is not hidden, it is being broadcast live to the entire world,” he added, pointing out that more than 250 journalists have been killed in the conflict. “Even animals are being killed, farmland is being destroyed, and Gaza’s soil is no longer fit for human, animal, or plant life.”
A Call to Conscience: “We Cannot Stay Silent”
The Turkish president sharply criticized the Israeli government’s conduct, calling its military operations in Gaza and the West Bank an expression of an “obsession with the Promised Land,” which he warned poses a threat to the entire region.
“Israel is displacing civilians, targeting hospitals, and deliberately pushing Gaza beyond the limits of survival,” Erdoğan said. “Gaza is being razed under the pretext of fighting Hamas, but innocent civilians in the West Bank are also being targeted.”
He accused Israel of extending its aggression beyond Palestinian territories, citing recent actions against neighboring countries including an alleged attack on Qatar as signs that the Israeli leadership had “lost all control.”
“These reckless attacks show that Israel is no longer just a threat to Palestinians. It is destabilizing the entire region,” he warned.
Erdoğan also addressed the broader implications of the conflict for the international order, claiming that Western values were being eroded by silence and complicity.
“Israeli aggression is feeding antisemitism globally, and the West’s double standards are fueling resentment. If we fail to stop this, we are all complicit,” he said. “Those who remain silent in the face of this brutality are accomplices.”
“Recognize Palestine, Hold Israel Accountable”
Reiterating Turkey’s position, Erdoğan called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the prosecution of what he described as war crimes and crimes against humanity.
“We must hold the perpetrators of this genocide accountable under international law,” he said. “This is no longer just about Gaza it’s about our shared humanity.”
Erdoğan expressed gratitude to the peoples and nations who have stood in solidarity with the Palestinian cause, emphasizing that this is a moral struggle as much as a political one.
“We stand with the oppressed Palestinian people, and we stand with humanity,” he concluded. “And we thank all those around the world who have raised their voices for Gaza. History will remember who stood for justice and who turned away.”
