The exchange escalated after Erdogan warned that Israeli military operations in Syria and Lebanon had reached a level that posed a threat to Turkey as well. "We will never allow Israel to realize its Promised Land plan", Erdogan said, adding that Israel's military operations threatened the entire world and had to be stopped.
Netanyahu responded on X, writing that Erdogan — whom he accused of committing genocide against Kurds, backing the Hamas terrorist organization, oppressing his own people and jailing political opponents — was "the last person who can lecture the state of Israel on morality".
Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurlek, responding to Netanyahu's remarks, noted that the Israeli prime minister is a suspect in a genocide investigation being conducted by Istanbul's chief prosecutor. He accused Netanyahu of attacking Erdogan for defending human dignity and the Palestinian cause.
"Netanyahu and the network of killers around him will sooner or later be held accountable before an independent judiciary for their crimes against humanity", Gurlek said.
Erdogan's spokesman, Burhanettin Duran, said a government accused of genocide in Gaza had no standing to lecture Turkey, while the Turkish Foreign Ministry accused Netanyahu of attempting to manipulate international opinion through baseless and provocative falsehoods.
"Netanyahu, an expert in genocide, cannot hide his responsibility for serious crimes by using lies", the ministry said in a statement.
Turkey has long called for an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
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Source: PAP