Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for Islamic countries to unite against what he termed “the growing threat of expansionism” from Israel, following recent military strikes across the Gaza Strip that have claimed at least 61 lives in the past 48 hours.
Erdogan’s remarks came after reports, confirmed by Palestinian and Turkish officials, of an Israeli military incident involving the death of a Turkish-American woman during a protest against Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank on Friday.
Speaking at an event for an Islamic schools’ association near Istanbul, Erdogan emphasized, “The only way to counter Israeli arrogance, banditry, and state terrorism is through an alliance of Islamic countries.” He also highlighted Turkey’s recent efforts to strengthen ties with Egypt and Syria as part of a strategy to build solidarity against the expanding threat, which he believes also affects Lebanon and Syria.
In response to the incident, Israel’s military stated that it is investigating reports of a foreign national being killed by gunfire in the area, with details and circumstances still under review.
Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes across Gaza have resulted in at least 61 fatalities over the last two days, according to local medics. An airstrike on a school compound in the Jabalia refugee camp killed at least eight people and injured 15, while another strike on a Gaza City house resulted in five deaths. Further strikes on the Amr Ibn Ala’as school in Sheikh Radwan suburb led to four more deaths and 25 injuries.
The Israeli military claimed that these strikes targeted a command center previously used as a school. Palestinian health officials reported that 28 people have been killed in Gaza on Saturday alone, amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire and address the humanitarian crisis.
