President Erdogan: We Will Not Let Israel's Nuclear Issue Be Forgotten

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (Source: Presidency of The Republic of Turkey)

JAKARTA - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ensured that Turkey would not forget the issue of Israel's nuclear weapons, alluding to Europe's support for Israel's actions in Gaza, which he said was a disgrace to the Holocaust.

Speaking after a cabinet meeting, President Erdogan said the West was trying to "justify" what he called war crimes and crimes against humanity by Israel in Gaza.

"We as Turkey will not let the Israeli nuclear issue be forgotten," stressed President Erdogan, as reported by Reuters, November 21.

President Erdogan further said that Western countries have a "brotherhood of lies" with Israel which he called "shameful".

"The shame of the Holocaust has truly held European leaders hostage," he said.

It is known that Israel's Minister of Cultural Heritage, Amihay Eliyahu, sparked global criticism after stating that the use of nuclear weapons was one of the options in his military operations in Gaza.

"Eliyahu's statements are not based on reality. Israel and the IDF (military) operate in accordance with the highest standards of international law to avoid harming innocent people. We will continue to do so until our victory," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said, saying the minister had suspended.

Meanwhile, a Hamas spokesman said Eliyahu represented Israel's "unprecedented criminal terrorism (which) represents a danger to the entire region and the world".

Criticism also came from the Arab League, Russia, Iran, and Israel's ally, the United States regarding the statement about nuclear weapons.

"The number one question is, have we heard an official declaration that (Israel) has nuclear weapons?" said Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, quoted by TASS.

"Therefore, the next question that arises is: Where are the international organizations, where is the IAEA, and where are the inspectors?" he continued.

Meanwhile, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki urged the IAEA to take action regarding the statement. Describing Eliyahu's statement as one of the ideas leaked from the Israeli Cabinet meeting to destroy Gaza and carry out genocide against the Palestinian people, Al-Maliki said the statement was completely in line with the widespread discourse in Israel.

“This is considered an official recognition of Israel's possession of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction. "The occupying power has developed nuclear weapons through illegal means and has refused to join the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons," Al-Maliki was quoted as saying via Anadolu.

Last weekend, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said there was a need for complete denuclearization in the Middle East region or other countries would take steps to improve their security, stressing the importance of finding a solution to this important strategic problem, highlighting the issue of Israel's nuclear weapons.