Erdogan Urges Islamic Unity for Gaza and Lebanon, Calls for UN Arms Embargo on Israel
In a strong appeal for unity, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged the Islamic world to set aside differences and rally in support of Palestinians and Lebanese amid escalating Israeli aggression. Speaking at the 40th session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC) in Istanbul on Monday, Erdogan underscored the need for solidarity, calling the situation in Gaza one of the century’s worst humanitarian crises. "One of the most horrible genocides of the century is occurring in Gaza," Erdogan stated, likening the crisis to atrocities of the past century.
The president announced that Turkey has entirely suspended commercial transactions with Israel, resulting in a trade loss of approximately $9.5 billion. This move, Erdogan argued, is a step toward holding Israel accountable for what he described as “inhumanity overshadowing the extermination camps established during World War II.” Erdogan further called for international recognition of Palestinian statehood, describing it as a critical response to Israel’s assaults.
As Israeli operations continue, Civil Defense efforts in the northern Gaza Strip remain largely paralyzed, leaving thousands without essential medical aid or humanitarian support. Erdogan expressed solidarity with Palestinians for their resilience and criticized the international response as insufficient.
Turkey, joined by over 50 countries, formally petitioned the United Nations for an arms embargo on Israel. The Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, speaking from the Turkey-Africa Cooperation Summit in Djibouti, accused nations supplying Israel with arms of complicity in what he termed “genocide” in Gaza. Turkey's UN Ambassador, Ahmet Yildiz, echoed these concerns, warning that Israeli actions have pushed the region dangerously close to widespread conflict.
In his address, Erdogan highlighted the urgency for cooperation within the OIC to counter cyber and economic threats, emphasizing that geopolitical tensions and inflation strain the global economy.
Erdogan’s statements represent a growing call for international action, reinforcing his belief that, despite the ongoing humanitarian crisis, there is a path toward a solution if unity and accountability prevail. He concluded with a stark warning: “Israel will inevitably pay the price for this ongoing genocide in Gaza, sooner or later."