Erdogan calls for immediate, lasting cease-fire in Gaza at G20 Summit

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated his call for an immediate and lasting cease-fire in Gaza during his speech at the G20 leaders’ summit on Monday.

“Once again, I call for an immediate and lasting cease-fire in the face of the humanitarian disaster unfolding in Gaza,” Erdogan said, emphasizing the dire situation in the Palestinian enclave, which has been besieged by Israel.

Highlighting the severity of the humanitarian crisis, Erdogan noted that 96% of Gaza’s population—over 2 million people—lack access to basic necessities such as healthy food and water.

Erdogan also underscored Türkiye’s efforts to provide humanitarian assistance, stating that more than 86,000 tons of aid have been delivered to Gaza, while Türkiye’s support to Lebanon has surpassed 1,300 tons.

Emphasizing that in a world where one in every 10 people suffers from hunger, the president said efforts to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, which were adopted by the UN General Assembly nine years ago, have yet to yield the expected results.

He said Türkiye represents a tradition that considers it a duty to provide assistance to those in need, no matter where they are in the world, within its means.

Türkiye views Brazil’s G20 presidency’s initiative to establish a Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty as both a strategic endeavor and a moral responsibility, he added.

While working to establish this global alliance, Erdogan emphasized the importance of not abandoning civilians whose lives have been shattered by conflicts, particularly in Gaza, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

Türkiye’s Zero Waste project becomes global movement

Erdogan underlined that Türkiye has one of the most comprehensive and inclusive social security systems in the world.

Ankara reviews active involvement in various food security initiatives to be an important aspect of its humanitarian foreign policy, the president said, adding that the Black Sea Grain Initiative has played a key role in preventing the rapid rise of global food prices and contributing to the reduction of the risk of famine.

He pointed out that the G20 Food Security and Sustainable Food Systems Action Plan, which was developed and presented for approval during Türkiye’s G20 presidency in 2015, has guided many governments in their efforts.

“The Zero Waste Project we launched to prevent environmental pollution and promote a culture of conservation has quickly become a global movement. On March 30, the UN declared it International Zero Waste Day.

“I believe that the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty should include reducing food waste and promoting the zero waste initiative among its priorities,” he added.

He expressed Türkiye’s readiness to cooperate in building a world where everyone has access to sufficient and healthy food.