Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday branded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “the butcher of Gaza” and accused him of spawning anti-Semitism across the world. He slammed Netanyahu’s government for the scale of death and destruction caused by its response to Hamas’ unprecedented October 7 cross-border attack. He has lashed out repeatedly at Israel for its actions, including calling it a “terrorist state” and accusing the Jewish state of killing Palestinian civilians.
The spat between the two leaders, who share a contentious relationship, will likely strain Turkey-Israel relations. Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP) have long championed the Palestinian cause. But they have also been reluctant to burn any bridges with the US, which they see as the main obstacle to their goal of a regional federation based on Islamic principles.
Erdogan’s criticism of Netanyahu has ratcheted up to new levels in recent days, with him comparing the Israeli leader to a “tyrant” who has massacred children. He has argued that Hamas is not a terrorist group but rather a liberation group. He has also slammed some Western countries for their unconditional support of Israel, which he says undermines the UN-sponsored humanitarian pause in Gaza.
On Wednesday, he blasted Netanyahu’s military for destroying Gaza schools and hospitals, claiming that the IDF was “massacring children.” He said, “There is no justification for the heinous crimes committed by Israel,” adding that “even wars have ethics, laws, and limits.”
His comments were an apparent reference to Israel’s bombing of Gaza last week. The raids on the schools and hospitals have killed at least 17 Palestinians, according to medical sources. Erdogan also slammed Israel for its indiscriminate bombings of civilians and called on Israel to stop targeting journalists working in Gaza.
Erdogan’s harsh rhetoric against Israel is revealing his true colors as an Islamist and is creating serious questions about Turkey’s future in the West, says Jonathan Schanzer of the Foundation for Freedom of Democracies. He argues that Erdogan’s hatred for Israel is rooted in his Islamist ideology and that his venom is hurting Ankara’s prospects for good ties with Washington.
Earlier this week, Erdogan called on the US to take a harder line against Israel and accused the White House of “double standards.” His comments came after Trump and Netanyahu traded accusations of blaming one another for the rising number of Palestinian deaths during ongoing protests near Israel’s Gaza border.
The Palestinian death toll has topped 20,000, and the ongoing conflict has led both sides to recall their ambassadors and reevaluate their tense ties. Erdogan has also slammed the US for its support of Israel, which he sees as an obstacle to his vision of a federated Muslim region with democracy and secularism. The spat between Netanyahu and Erdogan underscores the growing polarization in the region, fuelled by a deepening crisis over Netanyahu’s proposal to overhaul the country’s judicial system.
