UPDATE - Turkish president calls on Economic Cooperation Organization to raise voice against Israel's attack on Gaza

UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS FROM TURKISH PRESIDENT RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN, SMALL CHANGES IN DECK

By Muhammed EnesCalli

ISTANBUL (AA) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday called on the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) to speak out against Israel's attack on Gaza.

"If we, as the Economic Cooperation Organization, do not raise our voices together as Muslims today, when will we raise them?" Erdogan told the 16th summit of the economic grouping in Uzbekistan's capital Tashkent.

"Israel continues to bomb schools, mosques, churches, hospitals, and crushing all humanitarian values," the Turkish leader said.

On humanitarian aid for the besieged Gaza enclave, Erdogan said Türkiye has so far sent 10 planes carrying 230 tons of humanitarian aid to Egypt's El Arish airport with the help of Cairo.

He called the Israeli attacks "fanaticism" that "justifies the killing of children" and criticized the West's policy toward the Israel-Palestine conflict.

"Western countries, which constantly talk about human rights and freedoms and democracy, watch all these Israeli massacres from afar," he said.

These countries and organizations cannot even call for a "cease-fire," he added.

"Those who turn a blind eye to the burning of our holy book, the Quran, under the pretext of freedom of thought, cannot even tolerate the Palestinian flag."

Erdogan recalled that world leaders marched in Paris in solidarity following the killing of 25 people in attacks after Charlie Hebdo published caricatures of Prophet Mohammad.

Some 73% of nearly 11,000 people brutally killed by Israel in Gaza are women and children, he said, criticizing the US and the West for remaining silent about Israel's attacks on the enclave.

He also said an international meeting will be held in Istanbul on Nov. 15 under the auspices of Turkish First Lady Emine Erdogan, with participation from the spouses of heads of state and government.

"We continue our diplomatic efforts to ensure a humanitarian cease-fire and prevent the spread of conflicts."

Israel launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by the Palestine group Hamas on Oct. 7.​​​​​​​

At least 10,569 Palestinians, including 4,324 children and 2,823 women, have been killed, according to Palestinian figures.

The Israeli death toll nears 1,600, latest official figures say.

- ECO member states urged to step up efforts to increase trade volume to $100B

Erdogan said a more transparent and equitable international economic and financial system is needed now more than ever.

"The Economic Cooperation Organization undoubtedly has an important position in this respect with a population of 500 million and a total income of 1.5 trillion dollars," he said.

"However, it is thought-provoking that the trade of the members of the organization with each other corresponds to only 85 billion dollars."

The member countries should step up efforts to increase trade volume to $100 billion, he added.

Türkiye makes a significant contribution to the energy supply security of states in the bloc and the region, he said.

Empathizing that ECO countries can play a greater role in the field of energy with the steps they will take together, Erdogan said it would be beneficial to increase joint investments in the development of new technologies in the field of cleaner initiatives such as renewable energy and hydrogen.

He said the region is one step closer to lasting peace after the end of 30-year-long Armenian occupation of the Azerbaijani territory of Karabakh in 2020.

"Armenia's fulfillment of its obligations to Azerbaijan will facilitate this process. It is also strategically important to establish transport lines connecting the western regions of Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan as soon as possible."

- Calls on sustainable stability, security in Afghanistan

The ECO should put joint efforts to establish long-term stability and security in Afghanistan, Erdogan said, highlighting his country's humanitarian aid to help people affected by earthquakes in western Herat province.

"On Tuesday, our kindness train carrying about 510 tons of food, health, clothing, and other relief supplies departed for Afghanistan."

Last month, a series of earthquakes in Afghanistan's Herat province, which borders Iran, killed approximately 2,500 people, prompting Afghan authorities to request international assistance.

Erdogan also touched upon the Cyprus issue, noting that the ECO has the responsibility to make the voices of the Turkish Cypriots, who are unjustly oppressed and isolated by illegal practices.

"In this regard, I once again reiterate my call for the establishment and development of relations with the Turkish Cypriots in all fields," he added.

Cyprus has been mired in a decades-long dispute between Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots, despite a series of diplomatic efforts by the UN to achieve a comprehensive settlement.

Türkiye fully supports a two-state solution on the island based on sovereign equality and equal international status between its two states.