Jordan’s Queen Rania and Sheikha Mozah of Qatar were among the several first ladies of the Middle East to gather in Istanbul to call for the end of Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip. 
The Queen and the Sheikha joined Syria’s Asma Assad, Lebanon’s Wafa Suleyman, along with Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi’s daughter, Aisha, and the Pakistani prime minister’s wife, Fauzia Gilani, at the meeting, which was called “Women for Peace in Palestine.”
This gathering was set up by Turkey’s First Lady, Emine Erdogan.
“We, in the name of mothers who attach great importance to peace and human life, request that the international community press Israel to stop its attacks,” said the Turkish prime minister’s wife, reading from a joint declaration issued at the end of the meeting.
“Israel must abide by the U.N. resolution (calling for a cease-fire). It must lift the embargo. Israel must immediately withdraw its forces from Gaza,” she said.
Before reading out the joint declaration, Emine Erdogan denounced Israel’s attacks on Gaza, breaking into the tears as she recounted how children were caught up in the war.
“They were killed while riding their bikes in parks. They sought refuge in schools but were killed there too. They were killed inside mosques. They were taken to hospitals but could not escape the death machines there either,” she said.
“I am speaking and expressing my pain as a mother,” she said.
All the women in attendance wore white shawls over their shoulders which read “peace” in Turkish, Arabic and English.
Earlier those attending the meeting had met representatives of Turkish aid organizations operating in Gaza.
Since the attacks in Gaza began on December 27th, more than 800 Gazans have been killed, according to Palestinian medics.
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