Erdoğan at TRT World Forum: Gaza peace deal is regrettably not being implemented

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the international system had "raised the bankruptcy flag" at TRT World Forum 2026, which began in Istanbul. Erdoğan said the Gaza Peace Agreement, whose signing Türkiye also helped facilitate, was not being implemented, and drew attention to the situation in Gaza and the West Bank, journalists who had been killed and the double standard on press freedom.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered a message on Gaza to the world at the official opening ceremony of the 10th TRT World Forum, held at the Istanbul Congress Center. Speaking at the forum, organized under the theme "A World Without a Center: Who Leads When the Rules No Longer Apply?", Erdoğan said, "The Gaza Peace Agreement, whose signing we also helped facilitate, is regrettably not being implemented. The principle of 'pacta sunt servanda,' which forms the basis of international relations, cannot be put into practice. Everyone must now understand that no problem can be resolved in this way," he said.

Erdoğan said the world was going through "a painful period" in which competition for power was intensifying and the rules-based system was being seriously eroded. Emphasizing that the international system designed by holders of power and privilege 81 years ago was at an impasse, Erdoğan said, "When we look at the events unfolding in different parts of the world, particularly in our region, it is clear that the system has raised the bankruptcy flag."

The video shared by Anadolu Agency features highlights from Erdoğan's speech. From the podium, Erdoğan discusses the collapse of the international system, settler violence in the West Bank, the silence of international bodies over Gaza and the unimplemented peace agreement. At the end of the video, Erdoğan says, "Only those whose hearts contain a plane tree called compassion can hear the voices of the oppressed and aggrieved and make them heard by the world."

"The greatest genocide of modern times in Gaza"

Erdoğan said that Gaza was witnessing the greatest genocide of modern times, stating that 75,000 people, most of them women and children, had been killed in Israeli attacks since October 2023 and that 176,000 people had been wounded. Reminding that this figure was nearly 10 times the number of people killed in the 1995 Srebrenica genocide, Erdoğan said that 1,500 people had been killed and nearly 5,500 Palestinians wounded in the past year alone. Erdoğan said hospitals were facing shortages of fuel and equipment, the entry of humanitarian aid was still being blocked and more than 2 million civilians were being forced to live in makeshift tents.

Drawing attention to the fact that the West Bank had also become a target, Erdoğan said settler terrorism aimed at forcing Palestinians to leave their lands was becoming more brazen by the day. Erdoğan said that an international delegation consisting of lawmakers, academics and politicians had been denied entry to the West Bank last week, that a photojournalist from a U.S.-based newspaper had been beaten and seriously injured by members of a settler gang 20 days earlier, and that more than 3,000 attacks and violations against Palestinians had been recorded in the West Bank in October alone.

Group photo from the opening ceremony of TRT World Forum 2026

"They are watching from the stands"

Criticizing international bodies tasked with ensuring peace and security, Erdoğan said, "International bodies whose duty is to ensure peace, security and stability are watching from the stands what is happening in Gaza, just as they did in Rwanda, Srebrenica and many other places drenched in blood." Erdoğan said these bodies had taken no action beyond expressing concern and, referring to an Iranian proverb, said, "They sit, they talk and they disperse."

Recalling that more than 270 members of the press had been killed in the attacks in Gaza, Erdoğan said that some organizations continued to give Israel preferential treatment in their press freedom reports. Erdoğan said, "Those who turn into lions when Türkiye is concerned immediately become paper tigers when the matter is a genocide network. No offense intended, but this is the most vulgar form of double standards."

Erdoğan said Türkiye did not accept being targeted because of its principled stance, stating, "As Türkiye, we have placed not only our hands but our entire bodies, our hearts and even our souls under the stone for the construction of a more just and free world." Erdoğan said they were working to resolve all crises, from Palestine to Yemen, Sudan and Ukraine, through peaceful means. "No matter the cost, we will continue to voice courageously what we believe to be right and to defend justice and truth with determination," he said.

Bana Alabed presents President Erdoğan with an object featuring a butterfly design

Congratulations to TRT and a gift from Bana Alabed

In his speech, Erdoğan said TRT had continued its work for 62 years with an approach based on principled and responsible broadcasting, adding that TRT World Forum, held since 2017, had become a globally followed platform. Erdoğan said nearly 150 speakers from 43 countries would participate in this year's sessions and roundtable meetings, and stated that TRT was fulfilling its public broadcasting mission today with 18 television and 17 radio channels broadcasting in 41 languages and dialects. Recalling the words of the late screenwriter and writer Ayşe Şasa, Erdoğan said, "Only those whose hearts contain a plane tree called compassion can hear the voices of the oppressed and aggrieved and make them heard by the world. Türkiye's TRT is doing exactly that."

Presidential Communications Director Prof. Dr. Burhanettin Duran and TRT Director General Mehmet Zahid Sobacı also delivered speeches at the event. A video recounting the story of Bana Alabed, who brought events in Syria's Aleppo to the world's attention through social media, was also shown. Taking the stage, Alabed thanked Erdoğan on behalf of all the world's children and kissed his hand, saying "as she did 10 years ago," referring to Erdoğan's reception of her at the Presidential Complex. Alabed presented Erdoğan with an object featuring a butterfly design, representing children's voices.

TRT Director General Mehmet Zahid Sobacı presents a gift to President Erdoğan

TRT Director General Sobacı also presented Erdoğan with an object featuring a crescent and star and the letter elif. Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır, AK Party Deputy Chairman and Party Spokesperson Ömer Çelik, Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, and Anadolu Agency Chairman of the Board and Director General Serdar Karagöz also attended the ceremony.

Photos and video: Anadolu Agency

Have a story, event or announcement of your own?Send us your news on WhatsApp

Spotted an error in this story?Report it on WhatsApp

Share on all social platforms