Erdogan calls Gaza war 'ecocide' at UN climate summit
Turkish president also urged Israel to grant greater access for aid to the Palestinian territory.
AI-assisted coverage comparison, editor-supervised · How this was made
Erdogan calls Gaza war 'ecocide' at UN climate summit
Photograph: My Mother Lode (embedded from source)
What this story says
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza as both a genocide and an ecocide during a speech at the UN climate summit COP31 in Antalya.
- Erdogan urged the Israeli government to permit more aid into Gaza.
- A UN Environment Programme report indicated significant environmental damage in Gaza by May 2025, including over 97% of tree crops and 89% of grassland being affected.
- Local health authorities in Gaza reported over 74,000 fatalities in the conflict.
Who covered it
Percentages are shares of the 24 outlets carrying a published leaning rating. 6 of the 30 outlets we know ran this story carry no rating and are not counted in them. Coverage measured .
Trust
86/100
Craft
95/100
Hype
18/100
30 sources · methodology
Thin on the right so far
Only 2 of the 24 outlets with a published leaning rating that ran this story are rated right.
This story is still being watched, so it is a count and not yet a finding. Coverage keeps arriving for hours after an event, and a side that has published nothing this morning may publish by tonight. If it is still true when we stop checking, we will say so plainly.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed the UN climate summit COP31 in Antalya, Turkey, stating that the conflict in Gaza constituted not only a genocide but also an ecocide. He called on Israel to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into the Palestinian territory. Erdogan's remarks highlighted environmental destruction, including the felling of olive trees and the pollution of soil and water, contributing to the widespread rubble of Gaza's cities.
The UN Environment Programme's 2025 report, cited by My Mother Lode, detailed extensive environmental damage in Gaza. According to remote sensing assessments, by May 2025, 97% of tree crops, 82% of annual crops, 95% of shrubland, and 89% of grassland had been damaged. Local Gaza health authorities reported that more than 74,000 people have been killed in the war.
Disagreement on Israel's response
My Mother Lode reported that Israel's Foreign Ministry responded to Erdogan's statements by accusing him of promoting an anti-Israel campaign and supporting Hamas. The ministry stated that those concerned about Gaza should demand Hamas disarm for reconstruction to begin. None of the other reports included this specific response from the Israeli Foreign Ministry.
What the coverage left out
None of the right-rated digests mention the UN Environment Programme's 2025 report detailing specific percentages of environmental damage in Gaza. Additionally, none of the right-rated digests included the figure of over 74,000 people killed in Gaza, as reported by local health authorities and cited in the centre-rated My Mother Lode report.
Still developing. We have re-checked which outlets are covering this 2 times, most recently on 12 Nov 2026, 03:45, and will add the sides that appear.
How each side covered it
Our own reading of the reporting listed below, written from the outlets’ articles rather than quoted from them. The reasoning is set out on our methodology page.
Left
11 rated outlets
- Ten of the eleven left-rated reports focused on President Erdogan's declaration that the war in Gaza was an 'ecocide' and a 'genocide'. These reports also highlighted Erdogan's call for Israel to allow more aid into Gaza. Several of these reports, including The Korea Times, The Independent Online, Richmond Register, The Sun Chronicle, The Independent, The Independent (US), The Toronto Star, Welland Tribune.ca, The Seattle Times, and Associated Press News, mentioned the environmental impacts and the call for aid access.
Centre
11 rated outlets
- Ten of the eleven centre-rated reports led with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's statement calling the war in Gaza an 'ecocide' and a 'genocide' at the UN climate summit. These reports, such as My Mother Lode, Henry Herald, The EagleHerald, The Record, Winnipeg Free Press, WBAL, Rutland Herald, Bluefield Daily Telegraph, and WKMG, also noted Erdogan's request for Israel to grant greater access for aid to the Palestinian territory. My Mother Lode also included details from the UN Environment Programme report on environmental damage and figures on fatalities.
Right
2 rated outlets
- Both right-rated reports, Washington Times and Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer, highlighted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's statement at the UN climate summit that the war in Gaza was an 'ecocide' and a 'genocide'. They also noted his call for Israel to allow more aid into the Palestinian territory.
Questions about this coverage
- How did the left and right cover Erdogan calls Gaza war 'ecocide' at UN climate summit?
- Of the 24 outlets on this story carrying a published leaning rating, 46% are rated left, 46% are rated centre, 8% are rated right. Those percentages are shares of the rated outlets, not of every outlet that ran it, which was 30. The sections above set out what each side emphasised, in its own terms.
- Is Erdogan calls Gaza war 'ecocide' at UN climate summit left or right?
- Neither side dominates it. Of the 24 rated outlets on this story, 46% are rated left, 46% are rated centre, 8% are rated right, and no side holds the 70% this site would want before calling a field one-sided. A story is not left or right in any case; the outlets that carried it are what carry ratings.
- Is the coverage of Erdogan calls Gaza war 'ecocide' at UN climate summit biased?
- Erdogan calls Gaza war 'ecocide' at UN climate summit is one event reported by 30 outlets, and this page does not rate the story as biased or unbiased. What it publishes is the spread: which outlets ran it, where named rating organisations place each of them on the spectrum, and what each side chose to lead with. A leaning rating describes an outlet's record over time, not this article, and the two should not be run together.
- Which side is not reporting Erdogan calls Gaza war 'ecocide' at UN climate summit?
- When we first saw this story, outlets rated right had barely covered it. Coverage accretes for hours after an event, so that is where to look rather than a verdict — the split above is the current count, and it is the one to read.
- Which outlets covered Erdogan calls Gaza war 'ecocide' at UN climate summit?
- 30 that we know of, every one of them listed further up this page with a link to its own report and to what we hold on the publisher. Nothing here is a summary of somebody else's summary: the outlets are named so the original reporting can be read.
- What did Turkish President Erdogan say about the war in Gaza at the UN climate summit?
- At the UN climate summit COP31 in Antalya, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that the war in Gaza was both a genocide and an ecocide. He also called on Israel to allow greater access for humanitarian aid into the Palestinian territory.
- What environmental damage has occurred in Gaza according to the UN report?
- A UN Environment Programme report indicated severe environmental damage in Gaza by May 2025. It found that over 97% of tree crops, 82% of annual crops, 95% of shrubland, and 89% of grassland had been damaged due to the conflict.
- How many people have been killed in Gaza according to local health authorities?
- Local health authorities in Gaza have reported that more than 74,000 people have been killed in the ongoing war. This figure was cited in reports discussing the human cost of the conflict.
Read it at the source
30 outlets, grouped by the leaning a published rating gives them. Every headline links to the original; an underlined outlet name opens our profile of that publisher.
Left
11- Turkey's president calls war in Gaza 'ecocide' at UN climate summit (opens The Korea Times in a new tab)
The Korea Times — is The Korea Times biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Turkey's president calls the war in Gaza an 'ecocide' at the UN climate summit (opens The Sun Chronicle in a new tab)
The Sun Chronicle — is The Sun Chronicle biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Turkey's president calls the war in Gaza an 'ecocide' at the UN climate summit (opens Richmond Register in a new tab)
Richmond Register — is Richmond Register biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Turkey's president calls the war in Gaza an 'ecocide' at the UN climate summit (opens The Independent Online in a new tab)
The Independent Online — is The Independent Online biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Turkey's president calls the war in Gaza an 'ecocide' at the UN climate summit (opens The Independent (US) in a new tab)
The Independent (US) — is The Independent (US) biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Turkey's president calls the war in Gaza an 'ecocide' at the UN climate summit (opens The Independent in a new tab)
The Independent — is The Independent biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Turkey’s president calls the war in Gaza an ‘ecocide’ at the UN climate summit (opens WellandTribune.ca in a new tab)
WellandTribune.ca — is WellandTribune.ca biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Turkey’s president calls the war in Gaza an ‘ecocide’ at the UN climate summit (opens The Toronto Star in a new tab)
The Toronto Star — is The Toronto Star biased? Our profile of this outlet
Show 3 more
- Turkey’s president calls the war in Gaza an ‘ecocide’ at the UN climate summit (opens The Seattle Times in a new tab)
The Seattle Times — is The Seattle Times biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Turkey's president calls the war in Gaza an 'ecocide' at the UN climate summit (opens Crossville Chronicle in a new tab)
Crossville Chronicle — is Crossville Chronicle biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Turkey's president calls the war in Gaza an 'ecocide' at the UN climate summit (opens Associated Press News in a new tab)
Associated Press News — is Associated Press News biased? Our profile of this outlet
Centre
11- Turkey's president calls the war in Gaza an 'ecocide' at the UN climate summit (opens Henry Herald in a new tab)
Henry Herald — is Henry Herald biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Turkey's president calls the war in Gaza an 'ecocide' at the UN climate summit (opens The EagleHerald in a new tab)
The EagleHerald — is The EagleHerald biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Turkey’s president calls the war in Gaza an ‘ecocide’ at the UN climate summit (opens My Mother Lode in a new tab)
My Mother Lode — is My Mother Lode biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Turkey’s president calls the war in Gaza an ‘ecocide’ at the UN climate summit (opens The Record in a new tab)
The Record — is The Record biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Turkey's president calls the war in Gaza an 'ecocide' at the UN climate summit (opens Winnipeg Free Press in a new tab)
Winnipeg Free Press — is Winnipeg Free Press biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Turkey's president calls the war in Gaza an 'ecocide' a (opens WBAL in a new tab)
- Turkey's president calls the war in Gaza an 'ecocide' at the UN climate summit (opens Bluefield Daily Telegraph in a new tab)
Bluefield Daily Telegraph — is Bluefield Daily Telegraph biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Turkey's president calls the war in Gaza an 'ecocide' at the UN climate summit (opens Rutland Herald in a new tab)
Rutland Herald — is Rutland Herald biased? Our profile of this outlet
Show 3 more
- Turkey's president calls the war in Gaza an 'ecocide' at the UN climate summit (opens KOB 4 in a new tab)
- Turkey's president calls the war in Gaza an 'ecocide' at the UN climate summit (opens WKMG in a new tab)
- Erdogan Denounces Gaza's "Environmental Catastrophe" at COP31 Leaders' Summit (opens Hola News in a new tab)
Right
2- Turkey's president calls the war in Gaza an 'ecocide' at the U.N. climate summit (opens Washington Times in a new tab)
Washington Times — is Washington Times biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Turkey's president calls the war in Gaza an 'ecocide' at the UN climate summit (opens Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer in a new tab)
Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer — is Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer biased? Our profile of this outlet
Not rated
6- Erdogan: Not only Genocide Took Place in Gaza, but Also Destruction of the Environment (opens Naslovi.net in a new tab)
Naslovi.net — is Naslovi.net biased? Our profile of this outlet
- President of Turkey Calls the War in Gaza a "Ecocide" During UN Climate Summit (opens Independent Español in a new tab)
Independent Español — is Independent Español biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Gaza at the Top of the Climate: Cup 31, Full of Questions! (opens Unknown in a new tab)
UnknownOpinion
- Turkiye’s president calls the war in Gaza an ‘ecocide’ at the UN climate summit (opens The Frontier Post in a new tab)
The Frontier Post — is The Frontier Post biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Erdogan Denounces Gaza's "Environmental Catastrophe" at COP31 Leaders' Summit (opens efeverde.com in a new tab)
efeverde.com — is efeverde.com biased? Our profile of this outlet
- President Erdogan's Message to Gaza at COP31 Leaders' Summit: Let's Say Stop (opens A Haber in a new tab)
How did this read?
About the coverage, not about the story. We do not ask whether you agree with what happened — we have no honest use for that answer.
