Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Benjamin Netanyahu
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ‘the butcher of Gaza’ and accused him of fomenting anti-Semitism across the world on Wednesday.
Erdogan has consistently chastised Israel for the extent of death and destruction inflicted by its reaction to Hamas’ unprecedented cross-border strike on October 7.
He has termed Israel a terrorist state and called Hamas a liberation group.
Erdogan escalated his accusations during a speech to members of his Islamic-rooted ruling party in parliament.
“Netanyahu has already written his name in history as the butcher of Gaza”, Erdogan stated in remarks broadcast nationally.
“Netanyahu is endangering the security of all Jews in the world by supporting anti-Semitism with the murders he committed in Gaza”, he added.
Erdogan’s venomous rhetoric has threatened to sever Turkey’s fledgling ties with Israel.
Following a decade-long schism, the two sides reappointed ambassadors last year.
They had also discussed creating closer trade relations and cooperating on new energy projects, which might have aided in the development of longer-term trust.
As a precautionary measure following the Gaza war, Israel recalled all diplomatic personnel from Turkey and other regional countries.
In response to Israel’s approach, Turkey has also removed its representative to Tel Aviv.
Mediators were attempting to extend an Israel-Hamas truce has facilitated the release of 60 Israeli hostages and 180 Palestinian detainees since last week.
Erdogan claimed that Netanyahu’s government was hindering operations by continuing to discuss Hamas eradication plans.
“Statements made by the Netanyahu administration diminish our hopes for the humanitarian pause to be transformed into a lasting ceasefire”, Erdogan continued.
The truce accord has put a temporary halt to fighting that began when Hamas militants crossed the border into Israel, killing 1,200 people, largely civilians, and capturing approximately 240.
According to Hamas officials, Israel’s following air and ground war in Gaza has killed roughly 15,000 people, mostly civilians, and reduced major areas of the territory’s north to rubble.
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