Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a “war criminal” in response to comments made by the Turkish head of state on 26 June, saying Ankara would support Lebanon in a war against Israel.
“[Erdogan] announced his support for Hezbollah against Israel’s threats,” Katz said via a post on social media. “Erdogan is a war criminal who slaughters innocent Kurds across the Syrian border and tries to deny Israel its right to self-defense against a terror organization attacking from Lebanon under Iran’s orders.”
The Israeli official later made direct comments targeting the Turkish president in the post, telling Erdogan, “Be quiet and shame on you!”
Erdogan, in an address to the parliamentary group of his Justice and Development Party on Wednesday, blasted western support of Israel, affirming solidarity with the Lebanese front if war with Israel ensues.
“Israel, which has devastated Gaza, is now setting its sights on Lebanon. We see that Western powers are supporting Israel behind the scenes,” the Turkish head of state said. “Turkiye stands with [the] brotherly Lebanese people and state and I invite other countries in the region to stand in solidarity with Lebanon as well.”
Erdogan added in his address to the party that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to allow the war to spill over across the region “will lead to a major catastrophe,” further stating that the Islamic world and West Asia nations should be at the front line in opposition to these “bloody plans.”
“It is extremely dire, pathetic that states, which talk about freedom, human rights, and justice, are held captive by a madman like Netanyahu,” Erdogan stated.
