War

TURKEY - Turkey’s first lady has urged Melania Trump to speak out for children suffering in Israel’s war in Gaza.

Emine Erdogan praised the US first lady’s support for children affected by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, asking Trump to ‘extend the advocacy’ to Palestinians.

In a letter published by the Turkish presidency on Saturday, Erdogan said Gaza had become a ‘children’s cemetery’, telling Trump: “We must unite our voices and strength against this injustice.”

It comes as UN-backed food security experts have assessed half a million people are suffering from famine in Gaza City - and 132 000 children’s lives are threatened by malnutrition.

“The phrase ‘unknown baby’ written on the shrouds of thousands of Gazan children opens irreparable wounds in our consciences,” Erdogan wrote.

The letter calls on Trump to ‘show the same sensitivity to Gaza that you have shown to Ukrainian children who have lost their lives in the war’.

Erdogan also encouraged Melania to appeal directly to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end ‘the humanitarian crisis in Gaza’.

Earlier this month, Trump sent Russian President Vladimir Putin a letter, imploring him to consider children, but did not reference any specific children.

The Turkish first lady does not usually involve herself in politics, more often choosing to be active in environmental issues - which has earned her praise from UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

Nevertheless, Erdogan has written letters to the partners of world leaders in the past, in 2016 on behalf of Syrians caught up in civil war and condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza in March.

Emine Erdogan praised the US first lady’s support for children affected by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. (Pic: Daily Sabah)