Erdogan described Gaza as an inhumane concentration camp at the UN General Assembly

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed the world at the UN General Assembly held in New York. In his speech, Erdoğan harshly criticized the humanitarian situation in Gaza and condemned Israel's actions. While the Israeli delegation left the hall during the speech, Palestinian representatives applauded Erdoğan.

Stating that "Gaza is the most inhumane and shameful concentration camp of our age," Erdogan said, "As a father and a grandfather who dotes on his children and grandchildren, I have to say this with a heavy heart in this podium: Gaza is not only the largest children's cemetery in the world today... It is also the region with the highest child amputation rate in the world. The heaviest period of settler terrorism is taking place in the West Bank. Muslims and Christians have access to holy places in Jerusalem." "We are faced with a genocidal mentality that cannot get enough of killing." he said.

President Erdoğan's speech at the UN General Assembly had wide repercussions in the world press. Erdoğan's harsh criticism of Gaza, his call for recognition of the TRNC and his demand for reform in the UN Security Council came to the fore in the news published by Qatar-based Al Jazeera in the international press.

AL JAZEERA: ERDOĞAN IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT

Al Jazeera gave extensive coverage to Erdoğan's speech at the UN General Assembly. The news reported that Erdogan condemned the Israeli actions in Gaza and the Israeli delegation left the hall during the speech. Al Jazeera drew attention to Erdoğan's words, "Gaza is the most inhumane, most shameful concentration camp of our time."

'Türkiye IS INDISPENSABLE ACTOR' EMPHASIS FROM UN

Speaking to Al Jazeera, former UN official Salman Shaikh said, "Erdogan is absolutely right" and stated that the situation in the region is "very, very dire."

"What was important in Erdogan's speech was the idea that we cannot allow what is happening in Gaza and the occupied West Bank to become a normalized situation," Shaikh said, adding that Türkiye is "an indispensable regional and international actor."

THE NATIONAL HERALD: GAZA IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST CEMETERY FOR CHILDREN

US-based The National Herald drew attention to Erdogan's statements regarding Gaza. The newspaper wrote that Erdoğan described Gaza as "the world's largest children's cemetery" and stated that the region had the highest child amputation rate in the world.

The news noted that Erdoğan devoted a large part of his speech to Gaza and directed harsh criticism towards Israel. The National Herald also noted that Erdogan wanted Türkiye to resolve the current disputes in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean on the basis of good neighborly relations and international law, and reiterated his proposal for an Eastern Mediterranean conference to be attended by the countries of the region.

YEDIOTH AHRONOT: ISRAELI DELEGATION LEAVED THE HALL

Israeli broadcaster Yedioth Ahronot stated that Erdogan renewed his views on the Gaza war. It was stated that Erdoğan called on countries that do not recognize the Palestinian state and asked for more international pressure on Israel.

Erdoğan's description of Gaza as "the world's largest children's cemetery" caused great repercussions in the Israeli press. The newspaper noted that Erdogan used the phrase "the most inhumane and shameful concentration camp of our time" for Gaza and said that "no one with humanity, compassion, a sense of justice and conscience" could ignore the events there. The news said that when Erdogan started speaking, members of the Israeli delegation left the hall in protest.

Asharq AL-awsat: URGENT CALL FOR GAZA

Sharqul Avsat, based in Saudi Arabia, included Erdogan's call to start the reconstruction of Gaza immediately in its news.

Erdoğan called on world leaders to "put more pressure on Israel" and said, "No one with humanity, compassion, fairness and conscience in their hearts can close their eyes to this picture. Attempts to strangle the State of Palestine will be disappointed. We will see good days when Palestine will come into existence on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital." He was quoted as saying.

The newspaper stated that, according to UN data, 84 percent of all structures in Gaza were damaged or destroyed by October 2025. Sharqul Avsat drew attention to Erdogan's call to countries that do not recognize Palestine and stated that Gaza needs a recovery and reconstruction expenditure of 71.4 billion dollars in the next ten years.

TOPONTIKI: A MESSAGE FROM ERDOĞAN TO EUROPE

Greece's Topontiki newspaper focused on Erdogan's messages regarding the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean. The news noted that Erdoğan stated that the UN Security Council could not fulfill its peacekeeping duty and called for reforms in the council.

Topontiki quoted Erdogan as saying, "I invite the international community to recognize the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot people must be registered, and the inhumane isolation to which they are subjected must end. I invite the international community to recognize the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and establish political, diplomatic and economic relations with this state."

The news also included Erdoğan's message to Europe: "To be frank, it is not possible for a Europe in which Turkey is excluded from the security architecture to become stronger and more secure. Our country, as an integral part of Europe, plays important roles in ensuring the welfare and security of the continent. We shape our future with the European Union with this strategic vision. We expect the same vision from the Union."

PROTO THEMA: CALL FOR RECOGNITION OF TRNC

Proto Thema, based in Greece, highlighted Erdogan's statements regarding the Aegean, Eastern Mediterranean and the Cyprus issue. The newspaper wrote that Erdogan reiterated his consistent stance on resolving disputes on the basis of good neighborly relations and international law and called for the international recognition of the TRNC.

The Greek newspaper stated that Erdogan brought the Eastern Mediterranean Conference proposal back to the agenda and argued that such an initiative could contribute to the creation of a "common ground of understanding". It was noted that Erdoğan re-established the position of "sovereign equality" on the Cyprus issue. The news also included Erdogan's message to Europe and his call for reform in the UN Security Council.