Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Turkey has sharply escalated its diplomatic confrontation with Israel, branding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the “Hitler of our times” following a series of heated exchanges between officials from both countries.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry issued the statement in response to remarks by Netanyahu, who had accused President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of supporting Iran and its regional allies, as well as making controversial claims about Turkey’s internal policies.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz also joined the exchange, describing Erdoğan as a “paper tiger” and accusing him of failing to respond to Iranian missile activity while launching what he called politically motivated legal actions against Israeli officials.
In its response, Ankara defended its position and doubled down on its criticism of the Israeli leadership. The Turkish Foreign Ministry said Netanyahu had been widely condemned for his actions in the region and referred to ongoing international legal proceedings against him.
It pointed to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court on allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity, as well as ongoing proceedings at the International Court of Justice related to Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
Turkish officials further stated that Netanyahu’s policies were aimed at undermining regional peace efforts and continuing what they described as expansionist policies in the Middle East.
The war of words comes amid already heightened tensions between the two countries, which have been further strained by the ongoing conflict in Gaza and wider regional instability.
According to reports from Turkish media, including Anadolu, the latest dispute follows legal action initiated by Istanbul prosecutors against 35 senior Israeli officials, including Netanyahu, in connection with an attack on the “Global Sumud Flotilla” attempting to break the blockade on Gaza.
The flotilla incident reportedly involved the interception of multiple civilian vessels in international waters, with activists detained and later deported, an event Turkey has described as unlawful.
Turkish prosecutors have characterized the operation as a serious violation of international law and have called for severe prison sentences for those involved.
In a further statement, Turkey’s Communications Directorate accused Netanyahu of attempting to distract from domestic and international pressure by escalating political rhetoric against Turkey.
It added that the Israeli leader was facing increasing isolation and criticism on the global stage due to the ongoing war in Gaza and allegations of serious violations of international law.
The latest exchange highlights the deepening diplomatic rift between Ankara and Tel Aviv, with no indication of de-escalation in the near future.
