Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he will hold a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday Jan. 5 to discuss efforts to end the war between Ukraine and Russia as well as the conflict in Gaza.
Speaking to reporters in Istanbul on Friday, Erdogan said the call would take place in the afternoon and would focus on peace initiatives related to both crises, according to Reuters.
Erdogan also said that Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will attend an upcoming meeting of the “Coalition of the Willing” in Paris in the coming days. The group brings together countries supporting Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion, Reuters reported.
Separately, Erdogan commented on the war in Gaza, strongly condemning Israel’s actions and the worsening humanitarian situation in the enclave, according to Anadolu Agency.
Referring to a mass pro-Palestinian rally held on Istanbul’s Galata Bridge on New Year’s Day, Erdogan described the gathering as “a historic moment,” saying it demonstrated that “Palestine is not alone.” He sharply criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of committing acts that would not go unanswered.
“What this Pharaoh called Benjamin Netanyahu has done will not go unpunished, because he incurred the curses of countless oppressed people, from the young to the old,” Erdogan said, according to Anadolu.
Highlighting the humanitarian toll of the war, Erdogan said the suffering of children in Gaza, many of whom are living in makeshift tents amid harsh weather conditions, would not be ignored and that accountability would follow.
The planned call comes days after Netanyahu visited Trump on Dec. 29. That meeting, held in Florida, produced warm public statements but no announced breakthroughs on a Gaza peace plan.
Trump had said the talks would cover several major Middle East issues, including Gaza, the occupied West Bank and potential threats from Iran. However, no new milestones were announced following the meeting.






