Erdogan urges Islamic unity, slams 'genocidal Zionism' at Mawlid event

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday called for strengthened alliances across the Islamic world and warned against what he termed a "radical, occupying, genocidal ideology known as Zionism," addressing attendees at the Mawlid al-Nabi Week program in Istanbul. "We believe there is virtue in unity; we are working to strengthen alliances and reduce disagreements both among ourselves and across the Islamic world," Erdogan said, urging Muslims to reunite "like bricks in a wall." He expressed hope that Muslims, "who shaped history and brought order to the world for centuries," would overcome current divisions to defend their rights and build regional peace.

Gaza 'children's cemetery'

Erdogan sharply criticized international inaction regarding the situation in Gaza, comparing global silence on current atrocities to the world's failure to stop Hitler and Pol Pot. He noted that Gaza had been turned into "the world's largest children's cemetery," where even children flying kites are treated as threats by Israeli forces. Civilians are struggling to survive without basic necessities while the world fails to respond to what Erdogan called the Israeli "genocide network's lawless policies, which disregard rules, principles, values, and boundaries."

Lebanon displacement crisis

The Turkish president warned that Israel's "war-obsessed government" is using provocations to destabilize the entire region, citing Lebanon where Israeli attacks have displaced 1.3 million people and killed more than 4,000 — mostly women and children — while wounding over 12,000 others. Erdogan described the current period as a "historic struggle between good and evil," stating: "We are going through a historic struggle between good and evil, and God willing, good will prevail." He added that Ankara's efforts to expose Zionism's expansionist ambitions serve not only Türkiye but all peoples in the region regardless of faith.

'Front of humanity'

Erdogan emphasized that Türkiye's advocacy against expansionist Zionism is undertaken on behalf of the "front of humanity" and all regional peoples, regardless of their religious affiliation. "All our efforts are aimed at establishing an atmosphere of peace and security in our region," he said, expressing Ankara's readiness to contribute to unity and solidarity across the Islamic world. The president spoke during ceremonies marking the birth of Prophet Muhammad, framing Türkiye's diplomatic initiatives as part of a broader moral obligation to confront injustice.