Turkey has sharply criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following remarks he made about Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, with a senior Turkish official accusing the Israeli leader of hypocrisy and rejecting his criticism of Ankara.
In a statement posted on X on Wednesday, Burhanettin Duran, head of the Turkish Presidency’s Communications Directorate, condemned Netanyahu’s comments and defended Turkey’s position on regional issues.
Duran described Netanyahu and his government as having a “shameful and immoral record,” accusing them of responsibility for the deaths of civilians and the destruction caused by Israel’s military operations in the Palestinian territories.
“Those accused of genocide cannot give moral lessons,” Duran said.
He argued that Netanyahu’s criticism of Turkey lacked credibility given the ongoing international legal proceedings concerning Israel’s conduct in Gaza.
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“The attempt by those on trial before the International Court of Justice for genocide in Gaza to tarnish the reputation of Turkey, which represents the conscience of humanity, and to target our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is one of the greatest hypocrisies in history,” Duran said.
The Turkish official added that criticism and accusations directed at Ankara would not alter Turkey’s position or its support for Palestinians.
“Slander and propaganda cannot change the facts,” he said. “Nor can the slander emanating from a mindset condemned by the human conscience alter either Turkey’s stance or the truth.”
Duran reiterated that Turkey would continue to support what it describes as the rights of oppressed peoples and maintain its opposition to Israeli policies in the Palestinian territories.
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