Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Tuesday called for Gaza's reconstruction to begin without delay and urged the international community to increase pressure on Israel.
Addressing the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Erdoğan said efforts to rebuild Gaza should start as soon as possible.
"We need to begin the reconstruction of Gaza without wasting any time. In this regard, I call on you to exert greater pressure on Israel," he said.
Erdoğan said attempts to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state would ultimately fail.
"Everyone should now understand and accept this: Attempts to strangle the State of Palestine will end in failure," he said.
He expressed hope that an independent Palestinian state with territorial integrity, based on the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital, would eventually be established.
"We will, God willing, see those beautiful days when an independent and territorially integrated State of Palestine, within the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital, will come into being," Erdoğan said.
Starting his address, Erdoğan expressed his sadness that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has been unable to participate in the UN General Assembly for two consecutive years.
"Palestinian President Mr. Abbas has been unable to be in this hall for two consecutive years. This injustice against our Palestinian brothers and sisters wounds consciences," he added.
Erdoğan said Türkiye would continue to speak on behalf of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state despite Abbas' absence.
"Although Mr. Abbas cannot be here in person, just as we did last year, we will be the voice of a free and sovereign State of Palestine," he said.
Erdoğan called on countries to recognize a Palestinian state. "Today, once again, I call on all countries that have not yet recognized the State of Palestine to reconsider their decisions," he said.
Addressing the situation in the Gaza Strip, Erdoğan said the enclave had become the world's largest cemetery for children and the region with the world's highest rate of child amputations.
