ISTANBUL: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Monday strongly condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, asserting that he will eventually face trial as a war criminal for Israel’s ongoing offensive in the Gaza Strip.
Erdogan criticized Western countries for extending “unconditional support” to Israel, accusing them of complicity in the alleged crimes committed during the military campaign in Gaza. Turkey, a supporter of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, has consistently voiced its disapproval of Israel’s actions in Gaza.
While addressing an Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) committee meeting in Istanbul, Erdogan accused Netanyahu of being the “butcher of Gaza” and drew a parallel to former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, who faced trial for genocide and war crimes.
Erdogan Slams Western Nations for Supporting Israel
The Turkish leader lambasted Western nations for their support of Israel, claiming they were providing unwavering backing to actions resulting in civilian casualties. Erdogan emphasized that beyond being labeled a war criminal, Netanyahu would be tried for his role in the Gaza offensive.
The ongoing Israeli bombardments in the Gaza Strip has resulted in a reported death toll of over 15,500 Palestinian people, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Erdogan reiterated Turkey’s position on Hamas, noting that unlike some Western allies, Turkey does not categorize Hamas as a terrorist group and hosts some of its members. “We must absolutely evaluate the United Nations Human Rights Council and the International Criminal Court (ICC) within this framework,” Erdogan declared, emphasizing that Israel’s possession of a nuclear arsenal should not be overlooked.
Erdogan criticized the United Nations Security Council, calling for urgent reform and asserting that the current structure, with its five permanent members, did not represent the world. He claimed that UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ efforts had been sabotaged by Security Council members, stating, “It is not possible for such a structure to bring peace or hope to humanity.”
