This came in a statement he made to reporters after performing Friday prayers at the Ali Ibn Abi Talib Mosque in Istanbul. Erdogan referred to the solidarity march with Palestine that was organized on Thursday, saying, "We welcomed the year 2026 with historic scenes on the Galata Bridge in Istanbul, and this confirms that Palestine is not alone."
He added: "We see the plight of Gaza's children in tents amidst wind, rain, and mud, and their prayers will surely haunt Netanyahu."
The Turkish president affirmed his country's continued commitment to sending humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, stressing that Türkiye's position on the Palestinian issue will not change and that it will continue its support.
On the international front, Erdogan said that Turkey is making intensive efforts to bring peace between Russia and Ukraine, announcing that he will hold a telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump next Monday to discuss the Palestinian issue and the Russian-Ukrainian war.
He also noted that the Turkish Foreign Minister will participate this week in the "Coalition of the Willing" conference in support of Ukraine in Paris.
On the domestic front, Erdogan affirmed that the Turkish economy is witnessing a remarkable improvement, and that inflation indicators are decreasing, noting the continued work on plans to rebuild the states affected by the February 2023 earthquake.
