Erdogan Urges Trump to End U.S. Arms Support to Israel, Calls for Immediate Halt to Gaza Conflict
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to pressure Israel into halting its military operations in Gaza and Lebanon, suggesting that a first step could be cutting off American arms support to Israel. Erdogan, returning from Budapest, reiterated Turkiye's firm opposition to the ongoing Israeli offensive, underscoring the need for new U.S. leadership to prioritize peace in the Middle East. The Turkish leader’s remarks highlight Turkiye’s efforts to hold Israel accountable through international action, including joining South Africa’s genocide case against Israel in the International Court of Justice.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan voiced hopes on Friday that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump would leverage his influence to press Israel to cease its military actions in Gaza and Lebanon. In a statement made to reporters aboard his flight from Budapest, Erdogan suggested that an initial move might be for Trump to suspend American arms support to Israel, Reuters reported.
Erdogan commented on Trump’s promises to promote peace in the region, saying, “We hope Trump will deliver on his commitment to end conflicts and tell Israel to ‘stop.’ Cutting off arms support to Israel could be a significant first step to halt aggression on Palestinian and Lebanese lands,” he remarked, according to an official transcript from the press briefing.
Turkiye has taken a firm stance against Israel’s ongoing actions in Gaza, suspending trade with Israel and moving to join a genocide case led by South Africa against Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Erdogan’s recent statements align with Turkiye’s broader diplomatic strategy to hold Israel accountable on an international level.
Also Read: Violence Erupts in Amsterdam as Israeli Fans Clash with Pro-Palestinian Supporters
Erdogan warned that the political and military dynamics of the Middle East could face major shifts under Trump’s presidency. The Turkish leader also suggested that a continuation of Biden-era policies would likely deepen conflict and stall progress toward peace in the region.
In late October, The Times of Israel reported that Trump had conveyed his expectations to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a recent meeting, urging Israel to wind down its campaign in Gaza before Trump’s inauguration. Sources close to the meeting suggested that Trump shared these expectations with Netanyahu during his visit to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida in July, emphasizing the importance of a strategic conclusion to the conflict.