Ankara: Once known for frequently invoking referendums to demonstrate his commitment to democracy and public opinion, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is now facing criticism for his silence on Gaza. Nearly two years after Israel’s devastating assault on the besieged territory, Erdoğan has yet to consult the Turkish people on what many see as one of the most pressing moral and political issues of the time, reported the Reuters.
Analysts and critics argue that a referendum on Turkey’s policy toward Gaza would serve multiple purposes—relieving Erdoğan of accusations of indecision, showcasing the will of the Turkish people, and determining whether public sympathy for Palestinians can translate into concrete political action.
“If the people vote for a stronger response against Israel, Erdoğan would be bound to either step aside for new leadership or implement their decision,” commentators suggest. They warn that by avoiding such public consultation, Erdoğan risks being seen as hiding behind rhetoric while failing to act decisively.
Observers point out the contrast between Erdoğan’s past and present approaches. He once dissolved parliament and called fresh elections in defense of a principle as symbolic as the right of Abdullah Gül’s wife to wear a headscarf. That episode was treated as a defining moment in Turkey’s struggle between secularism and religious identity. Critics argue that Gaza—a matter involving thousands of lives and the conscience of the Muslim Ummah—should demand even greater urgency.
For a leader who built his image on Islamic solidarity and democratic populism, this selective silence is being described as both inconsistency and betrayal. Commentators stress that Erdoğan must either return to his democratic practice of seeking the people’s mandate or accept that his credibility belongs to a bygone era.
Meanwhile, Turkey’s First Lady Emine Erdoğan has drawn attention for her appeal to former U.S. First Lady Melania Trump. In a letter published on Saturday, she urged Trump to raise her voice for Palestinian children, noting her past advocacy for children affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Gaza has become a children’s cemetery,” Emine Erdoğan wrote, highlighting the haunting reality of shrouds marked with the words “unknown baby.” She urged Melania Trump to show the same concern for Gaza’s children and to directly appeal to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the humanitarian crisis.
