Since the beginning of Israel's offensive on Gaza on October 7, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been communicating with leaders by phone and in person to try to restore peace to the region and decrease civilian casualties, and he will expand diplomatic contacts in the coming days.
The Israeli army continues its escalating attacks on the Gaza Strip for the 38th day. According to the government in Gaza, the death toll from the Israeli offensive has exceeded 11,000.
Since October 7, President Erdoğan has been carrying out leader-to-leader diplomacy through face-to-face meetings and phone calls to ensure peace in the region and reduce civilian casualties.
Since the first day of Israel's attacks on Gaza, President Erdoğan spoke by phone with nearly 30 leaders, including President Mahmoud Abbas of Palestine, President Isaac Herzog of Israel, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt, Prime Minister Najib Mikati of Lebanon, Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamed Al Thani, President Vladimir Putin of Russia, King Abdullah II of Jordan, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune of Algeria and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia.
During the conversations, President Erdoğan stated that all states should speak out for a ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible and that the conflicts have become a threat to world peace.
Erdoğan's agenda at summits included Israeli attacks on Palestinians
President Erdoğan brought to the agenda for the 10th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States, which was held in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, on November 3, the human tragedy in the occupied Palestinian territories, particularly in Gaza.
In his address at the summit, President Erdoğan said, "There is no reasonable justification for what we have witnessed since October 7, and no such concept can adequately describe this atrocity. To put it simply and frankly, crimes against humanity have been committed in Gaza for the past 28 days."
President Erdoğan also held bilateral meetings with President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of Hungary, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, where they discussed the Israeli attacks on Gaza.
Attending the 16th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organisation on November 9 in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, President Erdoğan's agenda once again included the issue of the oppressed Palestinians.
In his address, President Erdoğan stated, "Women and children make up 73 percent of the nearly 11,000 Gazans who were massacred atrociously by Israel. The Israeli administration, fully supported by Western countries, continues to bomb schools, mosques, hospitals, universities and civilian settlements, infringing on all the values of humanity. We are facing fanaticism that even justifies the massacre of children."
On the margins of the Economic Cooperation Organisation Summit, President Erdoğan engaged in bilateral talks with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan, President Ersin Tatar of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), and President Ebrahim Raisi of Iran.
President Erdoğan exchanged views with the leaders on the humanitarian crisis caused by Israel's attacks on Gaza, as well as the steps to be taken to resolve the crisis.
Extraordinary Joint Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League
President Erdoğan attended the Extraordinary Joint Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League held in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, on Saturday.
President Erdoğan addressed the leaders of Islamic countries at the Summit and said, "Jerusalem is our red line. Our wish is for Jerusalem, the city of peace, and all Palestinian lands to return to their former glory. Of course, as the Islamic world, we cannot abandon our helpless Palestinian brothers. We believe that a fund for Gaza reconstruction should be established within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The Israeli government, which acts like a spoiled child of the West, is obliged to compensate for the damage it has caused."
President Erdoğan emphasized that, unlike in previous crises, the Islamic world has stood more united and in solidarity this time.
President Erdoğan also held bilateral meetings with President Joko Widodo of Indonesia, President Sisi of Egypt and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia and exchanged views on the Israeli attacks on Gaza, the efforts to deliver aid to innocent civilians in Gaza and the steps that can be taken for a solution.
President Erdoğan will step up telephone diplomacy
In response to a question regarding Türkiye's strategy for attaining peace following the return of Saudi Arabia, President Erdoğan stated that the country would increase telephone and in-person communications and utilise diplomatic opportunities.
Leaders of the countries that abstained from voting on the emergency humanitarian ceasefire resolution in Gaza, which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, will be contacted via telephone by President Erdoğan in the coming days. During these conversations, Erdoğan will attempt to sway these nations in favour of the ceasefire.
He will address European countries from Germany
President Erdoğan will pay an official visit to Germany on Friday, November 17.
During his interactions with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, President Erdoğan intends to address the issue of Israel's brutal assaults on Palestine. From Berlin, he will communicate his stance to European nations that are unable to condemn these atrocities.
President Erdoğan, who is scheduled to pay a visit to Algeria on November 21, will reportedly discuss the Israeli assaults on Gaza during his meeting with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune of Algeria.
Iranian President Raisi will pay a visit to Türkiye
On November 28, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is scheduled to pay a visit to Türkiye.
Ahead of this official visit, Presidents Erdoğan and Raisi will assess regional developments in addition to bilateral relations.
President Erdoğan, on the other hand, is expected to pay a visit to Egypt in the near future, a country that supplies Gaza with aid, primarily food and medicine, through the Rafah Border Gate.