Erdogan urges UN to act on Gaza crisis amid 35,000 deaths

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday that “nobody with a conscience can close their eyes to what is happening in Gaza,” condemning the ongoing Israeli assault and urging immediate action to protect civilians. The remarks came during a live‑broadcast session in New York, where Erdogan addressed a crowd of diplomats and world leaders while the conflict entered its ninth month.

Erdogan’s statement reflects Turkey’s long‑standing support for the Palestinian cause and its frustration with what it sees as a stalled diplomatic response. Since Israel launched its ground offensive in early October, the Gaza Strip has seen more than 35,000 deaths, most of them women and children, according to the United Nations. Over a million people have been displaced, and basic services such as water, electricity and health care have collapsed. International attempts to pass a UN resolution demanding a ceasefire have been blocked repeatedly, mainly by the United States, which cites Israel’s security concerns. Erdogan has repeatedly called the blockade a humanitarian catastrophe and warned that continued inaction could fuel wider instability in the region.

The speech is likely to push the issue higher on the UN agenda as the General Assembly prepares to vote on a new humanitarian resolution next week. Turkey has pledged additional aid shipments and is urging other Muslim‑majority states to pressure Israel through diplomatic channels. Western governments have responded cautiously, saying they share concerns about civilian suffering but emphasizing the need for a negotiated settlement. Observers say Erdogan’s forceful language could sharpen divisions in the UN, but it also keeps the Gaza crisis in the global spotlight and may spur renewed calls for an immediate ceasefire and a framework for post‑war reconstruction.