Türkiye’s First Lady, Emine Erdogan, has strongly condemned Israel’s genocidal actions in Palestine, describing them as a “post-modern Holocaust” aimed at erasing an entire people and their culture from history. Addressing the Doha Forum 2024 in Qatar, she called for global accountability in confronting what she termed “one of the most systematic assaults on human conscience in modern history.”
“This is not a war; it is an effort to impose a world order where only the strongest and cruellest survive,” Erdogan stated, highlighting the devastating toll of Israeli attacks. Over 44,000 civilians, including 16,000 children, have been killed in Gaza, with critical infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, and orphanages destroyed.
She questioned the legitimacy of Israel’s justification of “self-defence,” asking, “Who is Israel protecting itself from by dropping 70,000 tonnes of bombs on a population, half of which are children?”
Erdogan also criticised the global community’s silence, accusing Western nations of hypocrisy and complicity.
“Does the definition of ‘human’ apply only to those within boundaries determined by the West?” she asked, condemning the inaction of countries that claim to champion humanitarian values.
Highlighting the resilience of the Palestinian people, Erdogan emphasised the importance of preserving their heritage and recognising their struggle as a testament to virtues long forgotten. She urged the international community to demand an unconditional ceasefire and immediate humanitarian relief.
Concluding her speech, Erdogan quoted Palestinian poet Refaat Alareer, who was killed in an Israeli attack: “If I must die, you must live to tell my story.” She called on the world to honour the legacy of Palestine and ensure its story remains a shared human responsibility.
