Turkish First Lady Urges Melania Trump to Show Same Empathy for Gaza’s Children as for Ukraine

Ankara — Turkish First Lady Emine Erdoğan has called on US First Lady Melania Trump to extend the same compassion she showed for children affected by the war in Ukraine to the suffering children of Gaza. In a heartfelt letter reported by Turkey’s Anadolu Agency, Erdoğan appealed to Trump to urge Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the humanitarian crisis in the war-torn enclave.

Erdoğan reminded the US First Lady of their meeting at the White House six years ago, praising her for her past humanitarian stances. She specifically referenced Trump’s recent letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which Melania had expressed concern for Ukrainian children caught in the conflict. Erdoğan said the sentiments in that letter reflected “a deep sensitivity to global issues and the universal rights of children.”

Quoting Trump’s words on Ukraine, Erdoğan wrote: “As you stated in your letter, every child has an indisputable right to grow up in a loving and safe environment. This right is not limited to any region, ethnicity, religion or ideology. Supporting the oppressed who have been denied this right is a fundamental duty to the human family.”

The Turkish First Lady drew sharp comparisons between the tragedies in Ukraine and Gaza, while arguing that the destruction in Gaza has reached even more catastrophic levels. “You expressed sympathy for the 648 Ukrainian children who lost their lives in the war. I trust that you will demonstrate this same sensitivity even more strongly for Gaza, where more than 62,000 civilians, including 18,000 children, have been brutally killed,” she wrote.

Erdoğan also highlighted the tragic emergence of the phrase “unknown children” in Gaza, comparing it to the historic term “unknown soldier.” “Did we ever imagine that one day the words once used for fallen soldiers of uncertain identity would also apply to children? Today, the shrouds of thousands of Gaza’s children bear the label ‘unknown children’—those with no families left to claim them, their names erased. These words leave irreparable wounds on humanity’s conscience,” she lamented.

Citing UNICEF’s description of Gaza as “hell on earth above and a graveyard for children below,” Erdoğan stressed the deep trauma faced by survivors. She described children who have lost the ability to smile, screaming that they want to die, and carrying unbearable psychological scars. “History records that the hair of these orphaned children has turned white from the indescribable pain and fear they have endured,” she said.

The First Lady further argued that the crisis in Gaza not only amounts to genocide but also exposes a deep injustice in the international system. “This tragedy is a manifestation of an arbitrary order that values some lives more than others. It is a perverse system that places lesser value on the lives of some children. We must unite our voices and strength against this injustice, uphold international law, and remain true to shared humanitarian values,” Erdoğan wrote.

Her appeal comes as global criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza grows, with rights groups and humanitarian organisations warning of mass civilian casualties and long-term devastation for Palestinian society. By directly addressing Melania Trump, Erdoğan sought to frame the issue in humanitarian—not political—terms, urging the US First Lady to leverage her moral voice.

The letter also represents Turkey’s continued diplomatic effort to internationalise the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, drawing parallels to global outrage over Ukraine. Erdoğan concluded by expressing hope that Trump’s intervention could “fill hearts with hope” for families torn apart, children orphaned, and lives shattered by conflict.