Turkey’s president has launched a scathing attack on Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, declaring he is “blinded by blood and hate,” while one of his ministers branded him a “Hitler of our time”.
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also issued threats to invade Israel over its assault on Lebanon.
In a speech delivered after indictments were issued against 35 senior Israeli officials, Mr Erdoğan said: “Had Pakistan not been mediating in the war between the US and Iran, we would have shown Israel its place. Just as we entered Libya and Karabakh, we can enter Israel.
“There is no reason not to do it.”
The officials, including Netanyahu, face charges of crimes against humanity, prompting the Israeli prime minister to hit back in a social media post, accusing Mr Erdoğan of having “massacred his own Kurdish citizens”.
Israeli defence minister Israel Katz, who was also named in the Turkish indictments, branded the Turkish premier a “Muslim Brotherhood man”.
The latest friction between the nations emerges as Mr Erdoğan cautioned Donald Trump about potential “provocations and sabotage” in the wake of the US-Iran ceasefire.
Both countries are said to be vying to establish themselves as a dominant regional power in the Middle East.
Following the row over the indictments, Turkey’s foreign ministry labelled Mr Netanyahu “Hitler of our time” in an official statement. The notice, published on the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day, said: “An arrest warrant has been issued against Netanyahu by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Under Netanyahu’s administration, Israel is facing proceedings before the International Court of Justice on charges of genocide.”
The statement further alleged that Mr Netanyahu’s aim was “to undermine ongoing peace negotiations [in Iran] and continue his expansionist policies in the region”.
“Failing this, he risks being tried in his own country and is likely to be sentenced to imprisonment.”
