Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a recent statement, termed Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as Adolf Hitler.
Erdogan’s comparison was made in the context of Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Erdogan, leading a country that is a NATO member and advocates for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, has been vocally critical of Israel’s approach.
President Erdogan condemned Israel’s military operations in Gaza, labelling Israel a “terror state” and asserting that its leaders should face international trials. He intensified his critique by stating that Western countries supporting Israel are complicit in what he views as war crimes. Erdogan particularly targeted Netanyahu in his rhetoric, questioning the difference between Netanyahu’s actions and those of Hitler and accusing Netanyahu of being responsible for the deaths of over 20,000 people in Gaza.
The Humanitarian Impact and Erdogan’s Call for Action
The Turkish President highlighted the significant human cost of the conflict, noting the high number of casualties, predominantly women and children, as reported by Gaza’s health ministry. More than 55,000 people have been injured, according to these reports.
Erdogan also extended an invitation to academics and scientists facing persecution over their views on the Gaza conflict, signalling Turkey’s willingness to provide a haven for such individuals. He labelled Israel a “terrorist state” and referred to Netanyahu as “the butcher of Gaza” while describing Hamas as “a liberation group.”
The Palestinian group Hamas is known for its attack on southern Israel on October 7, which led to numerous casualties and hostages, followed by Israel’s intensive military response.
