---
title: "Erdogan calls Gaza war 'ecocide' at UN climate summit"
publication: "MediaBias News"
url: "https://mediabias.news/climate/erdogan-calls-gaza-war-ecocide-at-un-climate-summit"
api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/erdogan-calls-gaza-war-ecocide-at-un-climate-summit"
markdown: "https://mediabias.news/climate/erdogan-calls-gaza-war-ecocide-at-un-climate-summit.md"
audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/erdogan-calls-gaza-war-ecocide-at-un-climate-summit"
category: "Climate"
area: "Middle East"
published: "2026-11-12T03:25:16.790Z"
source_reported: "2026-11-12T02:20:59.496Z"
updated: "2026-11-12T03:25:16.790Z"
trust_score: 86
critic_score: 95
hype_score: 18
assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis"
fact_check_status: "not-performed"
coverage_measured: "2026-11-12T03:15:15.439454+00:00"
---

# Erdogan calls Gaza war 'ecocide' at UN climate summit

*Turkish president also urged Israel to grant greater access for aid to the Palestinian territory.*

**Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): 

- Trust 86 of 100, higher is better. Trust high (86) due to multiple named sources, official UN report, and independent outlets confirming Erdogan’s ecocide statement.
- Craft 95 of 100, higher is better. Critic score 95 reflects clear context, quoted stakeholders, specific data, and explanation of future implications.
- Hype 18 of 100, lower is better. Hype low (18) as language matches facts without sensational exaggeration.

Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology.

**The short version**

- 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.

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.

## Who covered it

Shares of the 24 covering outlets with a published leaning rating:

- Left: 46% (11)
- Centre: 46% (11)
- Right: 8% (2)

6 of 30 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-11-12T03:15:15.439454+00:00.

**Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 3 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-11-12T04:00:16.788Z.

## How the sides framed it

### Left

- 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

- 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

- 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.

**Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding.

## Factuality profile of the covering outlets

These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true.

- mixed: 2
- high: 10
- unknown: 6
- veryHigh: 12

## Verification scope

This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true.

## Original reporting this was written from

- [Naslovi.net](https://naslovi.net/2026-11-12/euronews/erdogan-u-gazi-se-nije-dogodio-samo-genocid-vec-i-unistavanje-zivotne-sredine/42596149) — Erdogan: Not only Genocide Took Place in Gaza, but Also Destruction of the Environment
- [Independent Español](https://independentespanol.com/noticias/medio-ambiente/presidente-de-turquia-califica-la-guerra-en-gaza-como-un-ecocidio-durante-cumbre-climatica-de-onu-b3083514.html) — President of Turkey Calls the War in Gaza a "Ecocide" During UN Climate Summit
- [The Korea Times](https://koreatimes.co.kr/world/20261112/turkeys-president-calls-war-in-gaza-ecocide-at-un-climate-summit) — Turkey's president calls war in Gaza 'ecocide' at UN climate summit
- [The Independent Online](https://dailyindependent.com/national/turkeys-president-calls-the-war-in-gaza-an-ecocide-at-the-un-climate-summit/article_4b29c60a-c4b8-518f-b0bc-80b3ced96719.html) — Turkey's president calls the war in Gaza an 'ecocide' at the UN climate summit
- [Richmond Register](https://richmondregister.com/ap/business/turkeys-president-calls-the-war-in-gaza-an-ecocide-at-the-un-climate-summit/article_3d7a8e49-ae30-5232-8d7a-3fcb49964f04.html) — Turkey's president calls the war in Gaza an 'ecocide' at the UN climate summit
- [Henry Herald](https://henryherald.com/news/world_nation/turkeys-president-calls-the-war-in-gaza-an-ecocide-at-the-un-climate-summit/article_5e7a5df6-d120-5347-affc-328f880d5f9e.html) — Turkey's president calls the war in Gaza an 'ecocide' at the UN climate summit
- [The Sun Chronicle](https://thesunchronicle.com/business/turkeys-president-calls-the-war-in-gaza-an-ecocide-at-the-un-climate-summit/article_da3b6073-8122-58d1-95a0-7839197c608e.html) — Turkey's president calls the war in Gaza an 'ecocide' at the UN climate summit
- [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/recep-tayyip-erdogan-gaza-israel-hamas-turkey-b3083492.html) — Turkey's president calls the war in Gaza an 'ecocide' at the UN climate summit
- [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/news/recep-tayyip-erdogan-gaza-israel-hamas-turkey-b3083492.html) — Turkey's president calls the war in Gaza an 'ecocide' at the UN climate summit
- [The EagleHerald](https://ehextra.com/news/nation_world/turkeys-president-calls-the-war-in-gaza-an-ecocide-at-the-un-climate-summit/article_d16241fc-dbc0-5514-90ae-1f268584da69.html) — Turkey's president calls the war in Gaza an 'ecocide' at the UN climate summit
- [Unknown](https://alquds.co.uk/%D8%BA%D8%B2%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%82%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%AE-%D9%83%D9%88%D8%A8-31-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A1-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%B3%D8%A6) — Gaza at the Top of the Climate: Cup 31, Full of Questions!
- [The Frontier Post](https://thefrontierpost.com/turkiyes-president-calls-the-war-in-gaza-an-ecocide-at-the-un-climate-summit) — Turkiye’s president calls the war in Gaza an ‘ecocide’ at the UN climate summit
- [My Mother Lode](https://mymotherlode.com/news/world/11300799/turkeys-president-calls-the-war-in-gaza-an-ecocide-at-the-un-climate-summit.html) — Turkey’s president calls the war in Gaza an ‘ecocide’ at the UN climate summit
- [Washington Times](https://washingtontimes.com/news/2026/nov/11/turkeys-president-calls-war-gaza-ecocide-un-climate-summit) — Turkey's president calls the war in Gaza an 'ecocide' at the U.N. climate summit
- [The Record](https://troyrecord.com/2026/11/11/cop31-erdogan-gaza-ecocide) — Turkey’s president calls the war in Gaza an ‘ecocide’ at the UN climate summit
- [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/faith/2026/11/11/turkeys-president-calls-the-war-in-gaza-an-ecocide-at-the-un-climate-summit) — Turkey's president calls the war in Gaza an 'ecocide' at the UN climate summit
- [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/news/world/turkey-s-president-calls-the-war-in-gaza-an-ecocide-at-the-un-climate-summit/article_4366d3d1-f7d3-52c5-8312-98cf8ed19f90.html) — Turkey’s president calls the war in Gaza an ‘ecocide’ at the UN climate summit
- [WellandTribune.ca](https://wellandtribune.ca/business/turkey-s-president-calls-the-war-in-gaza-an-ecocide-at-the-un-climate-summit/article_82211339-d595-5437-aced-c83f0d36d23c.html) — Turkey’s president calls the war in Gaza an ‘ecocide’ at the UN climate summit
- [The Seattle Times](https://seattletimes.com/business/turkeys-president-calls-the-war-in-gaza-an-ecocide-at-the-un-climate-summit) — Turkey’s president calls the war in Gaza an ‘ecocide’ at the UN climate summit
- [WBAL](https://wbal.com/turkeys-president-calls-the-war-in-gaza-an-ecocide-at-the-un-climate-summit) — Turkey's president calls the war in Gaza an 'ecocide' a
- [Associated Press News](https://apnews.com/article/gaza-cop31-climate-environment-aid-6bc9162a78f7ccd3b12832eb36ecb775) — Turkey's president calls the war in Gaza an 'ecocide' at the UN climate summit
- [Rutland Herald](https://rutlandherald.com/news/business/turkeys-president-calls-the-war-in-gaza-an-ecocide-at-the-un-climate-summit/article_f0482dbf-278a-5e5c-9c26-ee11e5ed3848.html) — Turkey's president calls the war in Gaza an 'ecocide' at the UN climate summit
- [Bluefield Daily Telegraph](https://bdtonline.com/news/nation_world/turkeys-president-calls-the-war-in-gaza-an-ecocide-at-the-un-climate-summit/article_15161ee2-6c79-538c-9e27-35874d463931.html) — Turkey's president calls the war in Gaza an 'ecocide' at the UN climate summit
- [Crossville Chronicle](https://crossville-chronicle.com/news/ap_news/turkeys-president-calls-the-war-in-gaza-an-ecocide-at-the-un-climate-summit/article_1b626381-6099-5937-86cf-d5979ceef95a.html) — Turkey's president calls the war in Gaza an 'ecocide' at the UN climate summit
- [WKMG](https://clickorlando.com/business/2026/11/11/turkeys-president-calls-the-war-in-gaza-an-ecocide-at-the-un-climate-summit) — Turkey's president calls the war in Gaza an 'ecocide' at the UN climate summit
- [KOB 4](https://kob.com/ap-top-news/turkeys-president-calls-the-war-in-gaza-an-ecocide-at-the-un-climate-summit) — Turkey's president calls the war in Gaza an 'ecocide' at the UN climate summit
- [efeverde.com](https://efeverde.com/cop31-erdogan-catastrofe-ambiental-gaza) — Erdogan Denounces Gaza's "Environmental Catastrophe" at COP31 Leaders' Summit
- [Hola News](https://holanews.com/erdogan-denuncia-en-la-cumbre-de-lideres-de-la-cop31-la-catastrofe-ambiental-de-gaza) — Erdogan Denounces Gaza's "Environmental Catastrophe" at COP31 Leaders' Summit
- [Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer](https://messenger-inquirer.com/ap/ap_national_news/turkeys-president-calls-the-war-in-gaza-an-ecocide-at-the-un-climate-summit/article_38ca29df-ac01-569e-957c-0686c36df559.html) — Turkey's president calls the war in Gaza an 'ecocide' at the UN climate summit
- [A Haber](https://ahaber.com.tr/gundem/2026/11/11/baskan-erdogandan-cop31-liderler-zirvesinde-gazze-mesaji-artik-dur-diyelim) — President Erdogan's Message to Gaza at COP31 Leaders' Summit: Let's Say Stop

## Questions

**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.

---

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