Erdogan Says Israel Blocks Shelter Containers Bound for Gaza

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan used the opening of the COP31 Leaders Summit in Antalya on Wednesday to turn from climate talks to Gaza’s winter, saying Palestinians there have been “condemned to live in tents in a quagmire of mud.”

The remarks, delivered as Türkiye hosted the United Nations climate conference’s leaders’ session, were confirmed against Anadolu Agency’s official recording of the speech, uploaded at 14:25 Europe/Istanbul.

Asking Israel for Containers

“Today we are asking Israel for containers,” Erdoğan said, “but unfortunately, at this moment, our Palestinian brothers and sisters in Gaza have been condemned to live in tents in a quagmire of mud.”

“Are these people not human beings? Are these people not even deemed worthy of a tent?” he asked. “We want to send containers; permission is not being given.”

The phrasing “asking Israel for containers” is literal; he made clear that Türkiye wants to send the shelters and says it is not being allowed to do so.

Flooded Tents, No Roof Overhead

He then turned to the storm that has swamped displacement camps. “Over the past few days, we have once again received heartbreaking news from Gaza,” Erdoğan said. “When the infrastructure destroyed in Gaza was combined with heavy rainfall and flooding, tens of thousands of tents and shelters were submerged.”

“Hundreds of thousands of our brothers and sisters in Gaza, who have no roof to take shelter under, particularly innocent children trembling from the cold, are struggling to survive in floodwaters under these winter conditions, often without their mothers or fathers.”

Gaza officials said last week that the season’s first winter storm flooded about 70,000 tents in 12 hours. Aid groups have blamed Israeli restrictions on shelter materials, including tents and caravans; Israel has said it restricts items that could serve military purposes.

‘No One Can Escape Responsibility’

“I must state this frankly,” Erdoğan said. “No one who sees, knows about, or witnesses such a shameful situation for humanity can escape responsibility.”

From Antalya, he said, leaders should tell the world that “making a show of force over the tragedy of Gaza’s children” is “weakness, helplessness, and above all, heartlessness.” Humanitarian aid, he added, must immediately be allowed into the area, “this policy of isolation must end,” and “this cruelty must stop.”

Ankara’s Aid Push

Türkiye has previously accused Israel of blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza. Erdoğan’s remarks on Wednesday framed the container shipments as part of that effort, and he called on the conference to demand that the restrictions be lifted.