Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused Israel of repeatedly violating the ceasefire in Gaza under what he described as 'false pretexts.' Speaking at a science awards ceremony in Istanbul on November 29, Erdogan said that despite difficult conditions, Hamas has continued to uphold the ceasefire. He criticized international media for failing to report the deaths of more than 270 journalists in Gaza. Erdogan also highlighted the devastating impact of Israeli attacks on the education sector, stating that over 13,500 students, 830 teachers, and 193 scientists or researchers have been killed, while more than 785,000 students have been deprived of their right to education. He described these actions as part of a deliberate and planned genocide. Erdogan reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to raising these issues and seeking solutions, noting that he discussed them during the recent G20 summit in South Africa. According to reports, nearly 70,000 people, mostly women and children, have been killed in Gaza since October 2023.

On the third day of his visit to Turkey, Pope Leo XIV toured Istanbul’s iconic Sultan Ahmed Mosque, widely known as the Blue Mosque. Built in 1617 under Ottoman Sultan Ahmed I, the mosque is famed for its more than 21,000 Iznik ceramic tiles in shades of blue and turquoise. According to the Vatican’s media office, the Pope visited in a spirit of silence, reflection, and deep respect for the faith of those gathered in prayer. He was accompanied by Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Istanbul’s provincial mufti Emrullah Tuncel, and the mosque’s imam, Kura Hafiz Fatih Kaya. The visit was guided by muezzin Musa Asgin Tunca. Pope Leo became the third pontiff to visit the Blue Mosque, following Pope Francis in 2014 and Pope Benedict XVI in 2006, marking another gesture of interfaith dialogue and mutual understanding between Christianity and Islam.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has received the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Europe Award in recognition of Turkey’s humanitarian initiatives for Palestinians and its role in transferring patients from Gaza for medical treatment abroad. The award was presented in Ankara by WHO Regional Director for Europe, Hans Kluge. During the ceremony, Erdogan criticized the international community’s silence over the destruction of hospitals and the killing of patients, health workers, and children in Gaza over the past two years. He emphasized Turkey’s commitment to global humanitarian values and highlighted the country’s progress in healthcare reform over the last 23 years, ensuring affordable and quality medical services for its 86 million citizens with the support of more than 1.47 million healthcare workers.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused Israel of committing massacres against Palestinians, particularly women and children, due to insufficient international pressure. Speaking in Ankara on November 25 during an event marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Erdogan said that over 20,000 children have been killed in Gaza and that two-thirds of the victims are women and children. He criticized the global community for failing to respond adequately to Israel’s actions and for ignoring the suffering of Palestinian women. Erdogan emphasized that the international community’s failure to act has prolonged the conflict and deepened the humanitarian crisis. He also linked the plight of women in Gaza to broader issues of gender inequality and exploitation under capitalist systems, calling for stronger global solidarity to protect women’s dignity and lives.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has reiterated his country’s commitment to mediating peace between Russia and Ukraine, saying Turkey will make every effort to end the ongoing conflict. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, Erdogan said he plans to discuss the resumption of the Black Sea Grain Corridor with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The grain deal, originally signed by Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, and the United Nations, allowed safe export of grain and food products from Ukrainian ports but was suspended by Russia in July 2023. Erdogan emphasized that reopening the corridor could facilitate peace efforts and reaffirmed Turkey’s ongoing involvement in international peace initiatives across conflict zones in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. He also expressed hope to engage with European and U.S. leaders to find a lasting solution to the war, highlighting Turkey’s earlier mediation efforts in 2022 that led to the initial grain export agreement.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Ankara on November 19 to discuss ways to restart the stalled peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. Erdogan emphasized Turkey’s desire to reinvigorate the diplomatic process through a comprehensive approach aimed at achieving lasting peace. He also expressed Ankara’s readiness to engage with Moscow to advance the dialogue. A senior Ukrainian official told Reuters that Kyiv had received 'signals' about U.S. proposals to end the war, which Washington had reportedly discussed with Russia, though Ukraine was not directly involved in drafting them. The peace process has remained stagnant since the Istanbul meeting in July, but Erdogan’s latest initiative signals renewed Turkish efforts to mediate between the warring sides. Erdogan also underscored the importance of U.S. participation in any future peace framework.

Authorities in Istanbul have evacuated a hotel in the city’s Fatih district after a German-Turkish mother and her two children died from suspected poisoning. The family, visiting from Hamburg, reportedly fell ill after consuming street food including stuffed mussels and kokorec, a local dish made from calf intestines. The father remains in critical condition. Investigators are exploring multiple possible sources of poisoning, including food and pesticide exposure, after discovering that a hotel room had recently been sprayed with chemicals. Police have detained eight individuals, including a hotel employee, two pest control workers, a baker, and four street food vendors, in connection with the case. Forensic teams have collected water samples from the hotel, which does not operate a restaurant. The three victims were buried in Afyonkarahisar province. The cause of the poisoning has not yet been confirmed, and authorities continue to investigate both environmental and food-related factors.

A shocking incident in Manisa, Turkey, has drawn widespread outrage after a school principal was caught on video pushing a 13-year-old autistic student down a staircase. The footage, which quickly went viral on social media, shows the principal calling the student over before forcefully shoving him. The student sustained serious injuries but reportedly received no immediate medical attention and was sent home alone. His mother later discovered the incident and filed both school and court complaints against the principal, citing previous instances of mistreatment. The Turkish Autism Solidarity and Rights Association has condemned the act, demanding accountability and justice for the victim. The case has reignited public debate over the treatment of children with disabilities in educational institutions.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has accused Germany of deliberately turning a blind eye to Israel’s “genocidal acts” and “starvation policies” in Gaza. Speaking at a joint press conference in Ankara with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday, Erdoğan sharply criticized Germany’s silence on what he described as Israel’s ongoing crimes against Palestinians, even during the ceasefire period.

Erdoğan claimed that Israel possesses nuclear and advanced weapons that it has used to threaten and attack Gaza, while Hamas lacks such arms. He questioned, “Is Germany not seeing this?” stressing that ending the mass killings and famine in Gaza is a moral duty for all nations, including Germany and Turkey.

The Turkish leader urged Germany and Turkey—two influential global powers—to work together toward achieving peace in Gaza. Erdoğan also called on humanitarian organizations such as the German Red Cross and Turkish Red Crescent to take immediate action to prevent further massacres and starvation.

According to reports, Israel’s renewed attacks since Tuesday evening have killed over a hundred Palestinians, including 46 children, in violation of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement signed earlier this month.

Turkey and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding on September 25 to enhance cooperation in the nuclear fuel sector. The agreement, part of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s White House visit, aims to deepen the longstanding multifaceted relationship between the two nations. Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar emphasized that the strategic civilian nuclear cooperation will bring mutual benefits in the future. Top leaders from both countries attended the signing ceremony, highlighting the importance of this partnership.

At a major conference in Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia, over 200 Muslim scholars and religious leaders from 50+ countries declared Palestinian armed resistance against Israeli occupation as legitimate, calling it a religious and humanitarian duty. The Istanbul Declaration urged Muslim businesses to cut ties with Zionist companies, allocate profits to Gaza, and demanded an end to political and trade relations with Israel. Delegates also called for accountability over alleged war crimes in Gaza and stronger global solidarity with Palestinians.

Turkey has announced a complete halt in economic relations with Israel, including banning Israeli aircraft from its airspace and prohibiting access to Turkish ports. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan made the declaration during a special parliamentary session, condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide carried out in violation of humanitarian values. Turkey had already suspended direct trade in May 2023, but the new measures mark a total cutoff. Bilateral trade between the two countries was worth $7 billion in 2023.

A powerful earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale struck Turkey’s Balıkesir province early Sunday morning, leaving at least one person dead and 29 others injured.

The quake, centered in the Sindirgi district, caused 16 buildings to collapse and damaged two mosque minarets. Tremors were felt as far away as Istanbul, nearly 200 kilometers from the epicenter, home to over 16 million people.

According to Turkey’s interior minister, an elderly woman who was rescued alive from the rubble of a collapsed building in Sindirgi later succumbed to her injuries. Several aftershocks followed, including one measuring 4.6 magnitude.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed his condolences and well wishes for the injured, posting: “May Allah protect our country from all calamities.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan welcomed recent European initiatives to recognize the State of Palestine. "We highly value the humanitarian gestures coming from Europe, particularly from France and the UK," Erdoğan stated. He added, "No one can remain silent amid the atrocities in Gaza, where children are dying of hunger and civilians searching for food are being deliberately shot." He also praised Portugal's plan to recognize Palestine, calling it a vital step.

Erdogan: Netanyahu More Ruthless Than Hitler, Responsible for Over 59,000 Deaths