The Turkish first lady, Emine Erdoğan, has urged Melania Trump to speak out against the deaths of Palestinian children in the wake of her plea to Russian president Vladimir Putin about the children of Ukraine.
According to Turkiye’s state media, Emine said the sentiments expressed in Melania’s letter to Putin reflected a conscience deeply attuned to global issues.
“In this context, especially as the spouse of a leader, your compassion for the lives lost, families torn apart, and children left orphaned under the devastating effects of the war in Ukraine is an initiative that instills hope in hearts,” Emine wrote.
“I believe that you will demonstrate this important sensitivity, which you have shown for the 648 Ukrainian children who lost their lives in the war, even more strongly for Gaza, where 62,000 innocent civilians, including 18,000 children, were brutally murdered within two years.”
During a meeting in Alaska earlier this month, US president Donald Trump handed Russian president Vladimir Putin a letter from Melania that asked for Putin to restore the “melodic laughter” of Ukrainian children, underscoring a pursuit for an end to Russia’s war on Ukraine.
According to the US media, the letter said: “Every child shares the same quiet dreams in their heart, whether born randomly into a nation’s rustic countryside or a magnificent city-center. They dream of love, possibility, and safety from danger.”
“Undeniably, we must strive to paint a dignity-filled world for all – so that every soul may wake to peace, and so that the future itself is perfectly guarded,” Melania wrote.
Within her letter to Melania, Emine praised Melania’s stance on Ukraine, writing: “As you stated in your letter, every child has the universal and undeniable right to grow up in a loving and safe environment.”
“This right is not exclusive to any region, ethnicity, religion, or ideology. Supporting the oppressed who are denied this right is a fundamental responsibility towards the human family.”
Emine’s public plea to Melania came the same day that the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) declared famine in Gaza after months of deliberate starvation by Israel’s blockade of humanitarian aid, which is a violation of international law and constitutes a war crime, the IPC says.
Famine has been confirmed in Gaza Governorate- the area around Gaza City- and is projected to spread to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis by the end of September.
The IPC reports over 500,000 people are already enduring catastrophic conditions marked by starvation, destitution, and death, while more than half the population,1.07 million people, are in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) and a further 396,000 (20 per cent) in Crisis (IPC Phase 3).
International humanitarian organisations and advocates are calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, urgent diplomatic pressure and full access of humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.
“With this confirmation of famine in Gaza we call on the Australian Government to take urgent action against Israel,” said Michelle Higelin, executive director of ActionAid Australia.
“The Israeli Government has created this catastrophe by blocking life-saving aid, a clear breach of international law. The international community must use every action possible to bring about an urgent ceasefire and allow aid to flow unhindered into Gaza.”