Istanbul, November 01, 2025 – The Europe Today: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday accused Israel of attempting to undermine the ceasefire in Gaza and resume what he called “massacres,” while reaffirming Türkiye’s unwavering support for the Palestinian people and calling for a fairer global order.
Speaking at the TRT World Forum in Istanbul, President Erdogan said that while the Palestinian group Hamas was adhering to the ceasefire terms, Israel was “seeking excuses to violate the deal and resume its massacres.”
“Everyone knows Israel’s terrible record when it comes to keeping its promises,” Erdogan stated, emphasizing that the continuation of the ceasefire, the delivery of humanitarian aid, and the launch of Gaza’s reconstruction phase would only be possible “if Israel is compelled on all these matters.”
Erdogan described the devastation in Gaza as “total,” noting that schools, churches, mosques, and hospitals had been bombed, leaving hardly a single building intact. “They say ‘Israel is innocent’ — how so? No one will believe this. Certainly, Türkiye will not,” he declared.
The president criticized Israel for allegedly using hunger as a weapon, particularly against children. “We saw those children reduced to skin and bone, being disciplined by starvation,” he said. He also highlighted the deaths of 270 journalists who had sought to expose “Tel Aviv’s false propaganda,” adding that many Palestinian journalists were killed alongside their families.
Erdogan censured global institutions tasked with maintaining peace and stability, saying they had failed to prevent “massacres, genocide, and the killing of children.” He criticized the UN Security Council’s decision-making structure, noting that resolutions passed overwhelmingly in the General Assembly were often undermined by the interests of a few powerful nations.
Apart from a few independent media outlets and courageous journalists, Erdogan said, there were few voices amplifying the suffering of Gaza’s people. He called for accountability for those who used their platforms to obscure “genocidal crimes” and paid tribute to journalists killed in the conflict.
“We hope that the world’s conscience will honor their memory and, through the evidence they gathered at the cost of their lives, bring the perpetrators of genocide to justice,” he said, reiterating that Türkiye is ready to support legal action through international mechanisms, including the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague.
“As yesterday, so today and tomorrow, we will never abandon our Palestinian brothers and will continue to defend a two-state solution,” Erdogan declared. He welcomed the growing number of nations recognizing the State of Palestine and urged others to act “without delay.”
Call for a More Just Global System
President Erdogan said the ongoing wars, inequalities, and injustices demonstrated the urgent need to build a more just and inclusive world order, stressing that the current international system — shaped by the victors of World War II — no longer reflects contemporary realities.
He reiterated Türkiye’s long-held stance that the fate of humanity should not rest in the hands of five permanent members of the UN Security Council — the United States, United Kingdom, Russia, China, and France — recalling his well-known slogan, “The world is bigger than five.”
“The system that delays decisions even amid the gravest humanitarian crises clearly needs new ideas and restructuring,” Erdogan said, urging a reform of global governance to reflect fairness, equality, and accountability.
He added that despite advances in communication and technology, children were still dying across Asia and Africa. “It’s easy to criticize from afar,” he remarked. “But we chose to act — to take responsibility and bring light to the darkness. Türkiye will continue striving for peace, justice, and solidarity across our civilization’s geography.”
Türkiye’s Global Mediation Efforts
Erdogan highlighted Türkiye’s active role in global conflict resolution, noting Ankara’s ongoing efforts to mediate peace in the Russia–Ukraine war.
He said Türkiye maintains open dialogue with both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, reaffirming its determination to support “an initial ceasefire and a lasting peace.”
The Turkish president also cited Türkiye’s diplomatic engagement in Somalia and Ethiopia, and its mediation in Afghanistan–Pakistan tensions, which recently resulted in a ceasefire.
“Today, no country has the luxury of isolating itself,” Erdogan said. “Those who ignore the suffering in Gaza, Afghanistan, or Sudan will one day realize that these problems will reach their own borders. To remain silent in the face of injustice is to be complicit in it.”
Condemnation of Atrocities in Sudan
Erdogan concluded by strongly condemning the massacres in Sudan’s El Fasher, calling for an immediate end to attacks on civilians.
“No one with a conscience can remain silent about these atrocities,” he said, expressing Türkiye’s readiness to assist Sudan “sincerely and openly.” He urged the international media to shed greater light on Sudan’s humanitarian crisis to raise global awareness.
Sudan has been gripped by a civil war since April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which recently seized control of El Fasher after months of siege. Rights groups have accused the RSF of committing mass killings, detentions, and attacks on hospitals.
“Türkiye will continue to stand with the oppressed, wherever they may be,” Erdogan concluded.
