Turkey’s First lady, Emine Erdogan has urged U.S. First Lady Melania Trump to speak out on behalf of the Palestinian children suffering amid the war in Gaza. In a letter published by the Turkish Presidency, Erdogan praised Trump’s previous advocacy for children impacted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and called upon Melania to “extend the advocacy” to Palestinian children. Emine described Gaza as a “children’s cemetery”, writing that the phrase “unknown baby” in reference to thousands of children “opens irreparable wounds in our consciences.” Erdogan also encouraged Trump to appeal directly to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to help end what she termed a humanitarian tragedy.
The letter was released in parallel with a new UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report, which confirmed the conditions of intense famine in and around Gaza City. The report warns that over 640,000 people will face catastrophic shortages by September 2025, while 132,000 children under the age of five remain at risk of life-threatening malnutrition into 2026. Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry says more than 112 of the 273 people who have already died as a result of malnutrition have been children. Israel disputes the famine designation, accusing IPC officials of bias, though the UN has been quick to deject such claims.
Erdogan’s intervention is significant given her normally limited political role, especially in the context of international engagement. Emine is better known for her environmental advocacy, but she has previously sent letters to the spouses of world leaders during crises in Syria and Gaza, where more than 62,000 have been killed since October 2023, according to the Gaza health ministry. More than 90% of homes have been damaged or destroyed and basic services collapsed, the population faces repeated displacement and deepening humanitarian collapse.
MD Effect: The Turkish First Lady’s appeal highlights how humanitarian diplomacy is extending beyond formal state channels, putting pressure on high-profile figures like Melania Trump to elevate the crisis in Gaza. The famine warnings highlight the rapidly escalating humanitarian cost of the conflict, and the call for American influence reflects wider expectations that U.S. voices could shape international attention in Gaza and place pressure on Israel.