Muslim nations’ response to genocide in Gaza not enough, says Turkish president

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expressed a lack of satisfaction with Muslim nations on Monday for their cold response to what he described as genocide in Gaza.

The Turkish leader pointed to the relentless support for Israel by Western nations despite the violent campaign that is being carried out on the Palestinian people and their land.

“Western countries have provided all kinds of military, political, economic, and moral support to Israel, while the failure of Muslim countries to respond adequately has led to the situation on the ground reaching this point,” Erdogan remarked at an extraordinary summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League in Riyadh.

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“First and foremost, it is crucial to impose an arms embargo on Israel, halt trade with it, and isolate it internationally until its aggression comes to an end.

“Türkiye has implemented trade restrictions on Israel. We’re ready to put into action all concrete and realistic proposals that will make the Netanyahu government feel the cost of occupying Palestinian lands,” Erdogan stressed.

Erdogan warned of Israel’s alleged long-term objectives, asserting, “Israel’s goal is to settle in Gaza, eliminate the Palestinian presence in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and ultimately annex the region.”

Erdogan also emphasized the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, noting that Ankara has sent over 84,000 tons of aid and is prepared to send more when allowed. He claimed that Israel has obstructed aid deliveries, holding supplies in Egypt for months.

The Turkish president urged Muslim countries to take decisive steps, advocating an arms embargo and economic sanctions on Israel. “It is crucial to impose an arms embargo on Israel, halt trade with it, and isolate it internationally until its aggression comes to an end,” Erdogan said, adding that Türkiye has already implemented trade restrictions on Israel.

Erdogan concluded by questioning the viability of a two-state solution under the current Israeli government, urging nations to recognize Palestine and join South Africa’s International Court of Justice case against Israel.

The summit, hosted in Saudi Arabia, brought together over 50 leaders from Arab and Islamic nations to address Israel’s actions in Gaza and Lebanon.