Turkey’s Erdogan urges world to ‘immediately’ start rebuilding Gaza

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on the international community to begin rebuilding the Gaza Strip immediately, urging world leaders to exert more pressure on Israel. Addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York, he lamented that since Hamas militants launched their assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, the Palestinian territory had been ravaged by Israeli airstrikes.

By October 2025, a staggering 84% of all structures in Gaza were damaged or destroyed, according to UN figures. Despite an October 2025 ceasefire brokered by the United States, Israel has continued its airstrikes and impeded the entry of materials required for reconstruction, which remains uninitiated. According to a joint assessment by the United Nations, the World Bank, and the European Union, Gaza will necessitate a staggering US$71.4 billion in recovery and reconstruction funds over the next decade.

Erdogan also urged nations that have not yet recognized Palestine as an independent state to reconsider their stance. His remarks elicited an Israeli delegation exit from the hall. In a bid to recognize Palestine as a state, France led a UN summit a year ago, with 10 countries, including Britain, Canada, and Australia, formally endorsing the move, bringing the total number of UN member states to around 157, more than four-fifths of the UN membership. However, Israel has vehemently rejected the move.