ISTANBUL

Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and French President Emmanuel Macron in a phone call on Sunday discussed the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza and prospects for peace in the region, according to a statement by the Turkish Presidency.

During the conversation, Erdogan expressed grave concern over the deteriorating conditions in Gaza, urging swift international intervention.

"The humanitarian situation in Gaza is worsening," he said, stressing that "the international community must take action toward an immediate solution."

Erdogan also reiterated his call for a long-term resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, stating that "the conflict between Israel and Palestine must come to an end" and that "a two-state solution is essential for lasting peace in the region."

The Turkish leader used the occasion to commend France’s recent decision to formally recognize Palestine as a state. He congratulated Macron on France's move, which has also been welcomed by pro-Palestinian voices worldwide.

Macron announced Thursday that Paris would formally recognize Palestine during the UN General Assembly in September.

France is set to become the first member of the G7 — a group of the world’s largest advanced economies — to recognize a Palestinian state. So far, 147 of 193 UN member states officially recognize Palestine.

"As France prepares to recognize the State of Palestine, let us recall the recognition of the State of Israel by France on January 24, 1949," the French Foreign Ministry said in a post on X

The move comes amid Israel’s continued offensive on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, 2023, which has killed nearly 60,000 Palestinians — most of them women and children — and caused the collapse of Gaza’s health system and severe food shortages.

Since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023, France has become increasingly critical of Israel’s military actions, especially those resulting in civilian casualties.

So far, Macron has condemned the bombing of civilians as unjustifiable, called for an immediate ceasefire at the UN Security Council, and warned that Israel’s operations in Rafah may violate international law.