Turkish president praises Brazil’s stance on Gaza

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday spoke over the phone with his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and praised Brazil’s stance on Gaza.

“President Erdogan stated that Brazil's stance in the face of Israel's brutality in the Palestinian territories is commendable and that efforts should be increased for the establishment of a permanent cease-fire and the delivery of humanitarian aid to the region,” Türkiye’s Communications Directorate said on X.

The two presidents also discussed bilateral relations between their countries, as well as regional and global issues.

“President Erdogan, who pointed out that Israel continues to escalate its attacks and massacres despite Hamas accepting the cease-fire, expressed the importance of supporting initiatives for the recognition of the Palestine State at this point,” it added.

Speaking about the Russia-Ukraine war, Erdogan said that Ankara is closely monitoring the war, adding that he proposed both sides return to negotiations and work toward establishing a just peace on the basis of rights and law.

Erdogan also conveyed his condolences and sympathy to the Brazilian president over the loss of lives in floods and landslides in Brazil, expressing that Türkiye stands with the people of Brazil.

Israel has pounded Gaza in retaliation for an Oct. 7 attack by Hamas which killed less than 1,200 people.

Since Oct. 7, more than 34,900 Palestinians, including at least 15,002 children and 9,893 women, have been killed, and 78,514 people injured in Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian health authorities.

Over seven months into the Israeli onslaught, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins, pushing 85% of the enclave’s population into internal displacement amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water, and medicine, according to the UN.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January said it is "plausible" that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and ordered Tel Aviv to stop such acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.