Turkish First Lady appeals to Melania Trump for Gaza children

ISTANBUL: Turkish First Lady Ayman Erdogan has written to US President Donald Trump's wife Melania Trump, urging her to contact the Israeli prime minister and address the plight of children in Gaza, officials in Ankara said on Saturday.

"I am confident that the important sensitivity you have shown for the 648 Ukrainian children ... will also be extended to Gaza," Erdogan wrote in a letter published by the Turkish presidency on Friday.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

"In these days, when the world is experiencing a collective awakening and recognizing Palestine has become a global will, I believe that your call from Gaza will fulfill a historic responsibility towards the Palestinian people," added Ayman Erdogan's letter.

The Global Hunger Monitor determined on Friday that Gaza City and the surrounding areas are officially in a state of famine, and that it will likely spread, increasing pressure on Israel to allow more aid into the Palestinian territory.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the report as a "blatant lie" and said that Israel's policy is to avoid starvation.

The Gaza war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas killed 1,200 people in southern Israel and took nearly 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Since then, more than 62,000 Palestinians have died in Israel’s military campaign, according to Gaza health officials.