Ankara: Trkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday emphasized the prominence of the Palestinian cause at the recent UN General Assembly meeting in New York. He stated, "Despite Israel's efforts to block it, the Palestinian cause left its mark on the 80th UN General Assembly."

According to Anadolu Agency, Erdogan highlighted that few countries are willing to align themselves with Israel or be seen in a photo with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. In his address to the UN, Erdogan condemned Israeli actions in Gaza, describing them as evolving from genocide to mass slaughter. He called for global action against what he termed the "barbaric acts" committed by Israel against Palestinians.

Erdogan also addressed the issue of the Turkish Cypriot cause, advocating for the recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. He celebrated the recognition of Palestine by 158 countries and urged for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Erdogan criticized Israel's policies of annexing the West Bank and depopulating Gaza, stating that they aim to eliminate the possibility of a free Palestinian state. He asserted that Trkiye is a significant obstacle to these projects.

Regarding a recent Palestine conference co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, Erdogan reiterated Trkiye's firm support for the Palestinian people. He noted the importance of the recognition of Palestine by two Security Council members, Britain and France, and criticized Netanyahu for dragging the region into chaos to retain power.

Erdogan described a meeting on Gaza attended by US President Donald Trump and regional leaders as extremely productive and discussed steps to stop the bloodshed in Gaza. He also mentioned discussions on climate policies and reforms aligned with Trkiye's 2053 Net Zero Emissions target.

Erdogan recounted his meeting with US President Trump at the White House, describing it as productive and addressing issues such as bilateral relations, trade, energy, and defense. He mentioned discussions on reaching a $100 billion trade target and addressing regional stability, particularly in Syria and the broader Middle East.