Prime Minister's Phone Call with Turkish President Erdogan: August 4, 2025
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, recently held discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, focusing on a range of global issues, including the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza was emphasized by Starmer, who stated that further Israeli military escalation is unacceptable and will only lead to increased bloodshed rather than resolving the conflict. Starmer also highlighted the importance of a surge in humanitarian aid, the release of all hostages held by Hamas, and a negotiated long-term solution, including a two-state framework.
However, despite these calls, Israel has escalated its military offensive, with plans for a potential military takeover of Gaza City. This move has been strongly condemned by international bodies such as the UN and Amnesty International as a catastrophic escalation with devastating humanitarian consequences.
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for an immediate halt to Israel’s military plans, hailing a Gaza ceasefire deal as a "critical first step". Reports indicate that the ceasefire achieved earlier has been broken by renewed Israeli attacks since March 2025, causing widespread displacement and humanitarian crises.
In response, Amnesty International and other human rights groups have urged Israel to rescind its plan to take control of Gaza City, halt the offensive immediately, and call for the unconditional release of civilian hostages held by Hamas.
The UN Security Council is scheduled for an emergency session on August 10, 2025, to address the ongoing crisis and insufficiency of humanitarian aid in Gaza.
The focus of the discussion between Starmer and Erdogan was not solely on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza or the immediate ceasefire. The Prime Minister also discussed his work on a long-term peace plan with allies, the UK's longstanding position that a viable and sovereign Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel can be the only basis for a just and lasting peace, and the need for a diplomatic solution to end Iran's nuclear ambitions in the long-term.
Starmer also expressed optimism about the future prospects of the UK-Turkey relationship, looking forward to speaking again soon. The leaders also discussed the latest progress towards signing a new export deal to sell UK-built Typhoon jets to Turkey.
As diplomatic efforts continue, the situation in Gaza remains fragile, with on-the-ground realities showing escalating military action by Israel and worsening humanitarian conditions. The international community is urged to renew its calls for a ceasefire, increased humanitarian aid, and the unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas.
Policy-and-legislation discussions regarding the ongoing war-and-conflicts in Gaza were part of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer's, discourse with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The General-news concerning the urgency for a ceasefire in Gaza, the humanitarian crisis, and the need for diplomatic solutions to end Iran's nuclear ambitions were also topics of their conversation.
