Open Destroyed Gaza And Its Population, Erdogan: Israel Terrorist State

Children's casualties continue to fall as a result of the Israeli attack on Gaza, Palestine. This time it happened to Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza. (Wikimedia-Commons Wafa in contact with a local company (APAimages)

JAKARTA - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan strongly criticized Israel's actions in an open manner to destroy Gaza and its residents. Erdogan branded Israel a terrorist country.

"Israel implements a total destruction strategy against its territory and residents," Erdogan said furiously in front of his party members, quoted from the Times of Israel, Wednesday, November 15.

"I say openly, Israel is a terrorist country," Erdogan continued.

Erdogan also said Turkey would take steps to ensure that leaders of Israeli political and military parties are tried in international courts.

On the same occasion, Erdogan described the Hamas group as a "fight fighter" who was trying to protect their land and people.

The scathing criticism of Israel came after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz assessed Erdogan's accusations of Israel having acted like a fascism "unreasonable on Tuesday 14 November". Erdogan also said of the Israeli captain of this terrorist state ahead of his visit to Berlin, Germany.

Israel's aggression in Gaza, Palestine, was a retaliatory attempt against the Hamas group that carried out an attack on southern Israeli territory on October 7.

Israel was known to be an old regional ally of Turkey before Erdogan came to power. However, relations between the two countries broke down following an Israeli attack on the Mavi Marmara ship bound for Gaza that killed 10 Turkish activists in 2010.

Netanyahu and Erdogan repeatedly attacked each other in the following years, including allegations of genocide.

In July 2014, Erdogan accused Israel of keeping Hitler's spirit alive during the war with Gaza.

Relations between the two countries then showed a little familiarity. However, Turkey-Israel withdrew its ambassadors in 2018, amid continued violence in Gaza, and the relocation of the Israeli embassy to Jerusalem with the support of the United States when it was led by Donald Trump.

In August 2023, Turkey-Israel announced a diplomatic renewal. Earlier this month, Ankara said it had recalled its ambassador to Israel to consult for Israel's refusal to approve a ceasefire in Gaza.