Turkish First Lady writes Melania Trump, seeks U.S. voice on Gaza killings
Emine Erdoğan urges the former U.S. First Lady to press Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as she describes Gaza as “a children’s graveyard.”
By Abdullahi Yusuf
First Lady of Turkiye Emine Erdoğan, has urged the First Lady of U.S. Melania Trump, to speak out on the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and to use her influence to press Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In the letter, Emine Erdoğan, the wife of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, recalled her past meeting with Melania Trump at the White House, saying her “gracious hospitality” and “moral sensitivity” had left a lasting impression.
She praised the compassion Mrs. Trump recently showed in her message about the plight of Ukrainian children, noting: “Your sensitivity to the children orphaned is an initiative that inspires hope in people’s hearts. As you pointed out in your letter, the right of children to grow up in a loving and safe environment is universal and beyond dispute.”
She went on to stress that such concern should also apply to Gaza. “I have faith that the important sensitivity you have shown for the 648 Ukrainian children who have lost their lives in the war will be extended to Gaza as well, where, in the span of two years, 62,000 innocent civilians, including 18,000 children, have been brutally killed.”
Describing Gaza as the scene of “the most tragic genocide of our time,” the Turkish First Lady echoed UNICEF’s warning that the enclave has become both “hell on earth” and “a children’s graveyard.” She added:
“Could you ever have imagined that the term ‘unknown soldier,’ used for unidentified soldiers in wars, would one day be used for children? The words ‘unknown infant’ inscribed on the shrouds of thousands of Gazan children who have nobody left behind and whose names cannot even be identified inflict irreparable wounds on our collective conscience.”
Erdoğan called on Melania Trump to take a public stand by addressing a letter directly to Israel’s prime minister.
“It would be profoundly meaningful if you were to send a letter, echoing your strong call for an end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, to Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel. These days, when the world is experiencing a collective awakening and the recognition of Palestine has become a global will, I believe that your call on behalf of Gaza would fulfil a historic responsibility toward the Palestinian people.”
The letter also warned against what she called a “distorted order” that values the lives of children in some regions over others.
“We must unite our voices and strength against this arbitrary system where anyone and anything can be devalued for the comfort of a privileged few. Only then can we restore joy to children whose laughter has been silenced, and speak of a sustainable and lasting peace.”
As a mother, Emine Erdoğan said she shared the pain of Gaza’s children.
“It is already too late for the 18,885 Gazan infants and children we have lost: like six-year-old Hind Rajab, killed by 335 bullets, and three-year-old Reem, whose grandfather bid her farewell as he kissed her once cheerful, fading eyes. Yet, we still have a chance for more than one million Gazan children who have managed to survive. Indeed, it is time.”
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