Turkey's president calls the war in Gaza an 'ecocide' at the UN climate summit

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed the United Nations climate summit, also known as COP31, in Antalya, Turkey, on Wednesday. He urged the world to acknowledge the environmental consequences of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, and he appealed to Israel to ease the restrictions on aid entering the Palestinian territory.

Speaking from the podium, Erdogan declared, "What has taken place in Gaza is not only a genocide, but it is also an ecocide," eliciting applause from global leaders and climate advocates. To support this claim, Erdogan cited the destruction of olive trees, pollution of soil and water, and the displacement of tens of thousands of people living in makeshift shelters.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry rejected Erdogan's accusations, claiming that he was using the international stage to spread false narratives against Israel and support the militant group Hamas. Israel's retaliatory military campaign in Gaza has resulted in over 74,000 casualties, according to local health authorities, and has caused extensive damage to the territory.

The destruction of infrastructure, coupled with torrential rains and flooding, has left hundreds of thousands of people without access to clean water, proper sanitation, and adequate shelter, thereby exacerbating health risks and deepening food insecurity. Despite Gaza's environment being severely impacted by the conflict, humanitarian aid remains far below the levels it was prior to the war, and many critical supplies remain blocked by Israeli authorities.

The United Nations Environment Program's 2025 report revealed that more than 97% of Gaza's tree crops, 82% of annual crops, 95% of shrubland, and 89% of grass and fallow land have been damaged since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. Mohammed Usrof, co-founder and executive director of the Palestinian Institute for Climate Strategy, emphasized that only 3% of the land is usable for agriculture, leaving Palestinians with a bleak outlook on their food supply and livelihoods.