Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan issued a powerful appeal on Friday from the European Political Community summit in Tirana, calling for an immediate end to the bloodshed in both Ukraine and Gaza.

Speaking before European leaders, Erdoğan warned that Gaza is facing “an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe,” with over two million Palestinians suffering from starvation and relentless Israeli bombardment. He condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “arrogant and uncompromising” policies, which he said not only endanger Gaza but also threaten the entire Middle East.

“More than 2 million people are starving in Gaza and thousands have been killed. We must say stop to this,” Erdoğan said. “Our main objective should be the two-state solution. It must be the only sustainable path forward.”

Erdoğan criticized the international community, particularly Europe, for failing to take decisive action to halt the suffering of Palestinians and uphold human dignity. He called for an immediate ceasefire and meaningful international engagement to enforce peace, arguing that the situation in Gaza deserves the same urgency as the war in Ukraine.

Turning to Ukraine, Erdoğan emphasized that Türkiye continues to support diplomatic efforts to bring about a comprehensive ceasefire. “We are at a critical moment for the guns to fall silent and peace to be established in Ukraine,” he said.

The Turkish president revealed that he has recently held talks with several world leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. He highlighted that Turkish diplomacy has helped relaunch technical talks between Ukraine and Russia — the first since March 2022 — following Zelensky’s recent visit to Ankara.

“We believe this opportunity should not be missed. We must avoid more bloodshed,” Erdoğan stated. “There are no losers in a just peace.”

Erdoğan urged European leaders to treat both crises — Gaza and Ukraine — with equal gravity, stressing that peace, justice, and the protection of human life must guide foreign policy.

As conflict continues to escalate in both regions, Erdoğan's remarks stood out as a call for conscience and a return to principles of diplomacy, justice, and humanitarian responsibility. (ILKHA)