President Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey delivered a scathing condemnation of Israel, branding it a “terrorist state” during a speech in the Turkish Parliament on Wednesday.
Erdogan has been a vocal critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza since the conflict erupted in October, his outspokenness coinciding with an upcoming diplomatic visit to Germany to meet Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
In his televised address, Erdogan accused Israel of using state terrorism by bombing civilians who were displaced, further affirming, “Israel is a terror state.”
He also defended Hamas, describing them as “resistance-fighters”, a perspective in contrast to Western leaders who consider Hamas a terrorist organization.
While the United States, Britain, and the European Union label Hamas as a terrorist group, Erdogan’s stance reflects a divergence from Western narratives. He criticized the US and others for their “backward” perception of the conflict.
Erdogan further called for the trial of Israeli leaders for war crimes at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
The conflict, initiated by Hamas breaching Israel’s borders, led to a series of retaliatory attacks.
According to Gaza’s Hamas-run Ministry of Health, thousands of Palestinian civilians lost their lives due to Israel’s bombardment and ground offensive.
Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia have persistently called for a cease-fire, advocating for minimizing civilian casualties, while Western allies have urged Israel to exercise restraint.
