• Turkish First Lady Emine Erdogan writes to Melania Trump calling for action on behalf of Gaza's children.
• Erdogan emphasizes the high casualty rate, including 18,000 children, from Israeli military operations.
• The letter urges Trump to contact Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
• Erdogan draws parallels between the advocacy for Ukrainian children and the plight of Palestinian children.
• Global media outlets have broadly covered the heartfelt request, highlighting the emotional appeal for justice.

Turkish First Lady Emine Erdogan has reached out to US First Lady Melania Trump, urging her to advocate for the children suffering in Gaza, drawing inspiration from Trump's earlier letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the war in Ukraine. In her letter dated August 22, 2025, Erdogan referenced Trump’s compassion for the "648 Ukrainian children" who have lost their lives and requested similar sensitivity toward the situation in Gaza, where "62,000 innocent civilians, including 18,000 children, were brutally murdered" over two years. This plea was emphasized in reports from TRT Global and AA.

Erdogan's letter highlighted the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza, indicating that the region has officially been classified as suffering from famine, with a report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification warning that Gaza "will likely spread" further famine conditions if assistance does not improve. This has become increasingly urgent, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed these reports as untrue, asserting a policy that aims to prevent starvation. These statements are supported by Reuters and Middle East Eye.