During a private meeting with President Mahmoud Abbas of Palestine, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that Israel's intensified ground attacks on Gaza City escalated its "acts of genocide" into a new phase.
According to the statement made by the Presidency of Türkiye, Erdoğan and Abbas discussed Israel's ground operation against Gaza and regional developments. Pointing out that these attacks simultaneously jeopardise the stability of Palestine and the region, Erdoğan emphasised Türkiye's continued commitment to advocating for Palestine on "every platform," including the United Nations.
Abbas outlined the priorities of the Palestinian side during the meeting: the establishment of an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza, the uninterrupted provision of humanitarian aid to Gaza, the complete withdrawal of the Israeli army from Gaza, and the assumption of authority over governance and security by the Palestinian state with the support of Arab countries and the international community.
Abbas' visit coincided with a period when Israel was expanding its ground operation in Gaza City. On September 17, the Gaza Ministry of Health announced that the Israeli army's operation in Gaza killed 98 people and left 385 people injured in the last 24 hours.