Ankara, DZWatch – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan asserted today that the scale of destruction in Gaza surpasses that of the Hiroshima atomic bombing by a factor of fourteen. He made the remarks during his address at the 16th Ambassadors Conference held in Ankara.
Erdogan stated that the existing international system has failed to prevent injustice, citing the ongoing conflict in Gaza as a prime example. He emphasized that the first half of the 20th century witnessed two World Wars, resulting in the loss of millions of lives, and highlighted the Holocaust as a stark reminder of barbarity that left an indelible mark on collective human memory.
“The current international order, which protects the powerful and oppresses the weak, has generated instability, crises, and injustice for decades,” Erdogan declared. He added, “More than 70,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, and over 170,000 others have been injured. The number of bodies still buried under the rubble remains unknown.”
The President highlighted the plight of countless families searching for loved ones or awaiting news of their fate. “Today, tens of thousands of children who have lost their mothers, fathers, siblings, homes, and schools are trying to cling to life amidst the ruins of Gaza. They are living witnesses to genocide.”
Erdogan noted that the population of Gaza was approximately 2.3 million before the current conflict. He claimed that the Israeli military has dropped more than 200,000 tons of bombs on the densely populated area, effectively leveling Gaza with a force 14 times greater than the Hiroshima bombing.
“In light of this situation, how can we talk about an international system that functions, produces solutions to these problems, and prevents injustice? How can we trust the current structure of global security and governance?” Erdogan questioned rhetorically. He asserted that many international institutions appear lifeless: “Without spirit, without feeling, without movement, and without effectiveness.”
Erdogan’s comments reflect growing international concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the effectiveness of existing international mechanisms in addressing the conflict.
