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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on Israel to immediately lift restrictions on humanitarian aid entering Gaza, accusing it of continuing to isolate Palestinians as civilians face worsening conditions during the winter.
Speaking at the opening of the COP31 Leaders' Summit in Antalya, Türkiye, Erdogan highlighted the scale of destruction in the Palestinian territory, saying Gaza had suffered both "genocide and ecocide" as infrastructure, farmland and natural resources were devastated.
The Turkish president drew attention to the plight of hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians who remain without adequate shelter as flooding and harsh winter conditions threaten their survival.
"Hundreds of thousands of our brothers, sisters in Gaza have no roof over their heads, innocent children shivering in cold, struggling to survive amid flooding, harsh winter conditions, often without their parents," Erdogan said.
He demanded the immediate entry of humanitarian assistance and an end to restrictions on the territory.
"Humanitarian aid must be allowed in immediately. This policy of isolation must end, and this oppression and cruelty must be brought to an end," he said. "Using the plight of children in Gaza to demonstrate power is a sign of weakness, helplessness, above all, lack of conscience."
He added that those witnessing what he described as the genocide in Gaza could not escape responsibility for the situation.
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