Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu devoted part of his address to the 81st United Nations General Assembly to sharp criticism of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Türkiye.
Netanyahu accused Türkiye of spreading anti-Israel and antisemitic narratives and described Erdoğan as a “tyrant.” He also accused Ankara of hosting senior Hamas figures.
The Israeli prime minister went on to level allegations against Erdoğan involving Kurdish civilians, the Armenian issue, journalists and opposition figures. The remarks were presented by Netanyahu as accusations during his UN address.
Netanyahu then turned to Northern Cyprus, describing Türkiye’s presence there as an “illegal occupation,” while also accusing Ankara of repeated violations involving NATO member Greece.
He also criticized Türkiye’s policy toward Syria, claiming Erdoğan wants to take control of the country, before directly challenging the Turkish president over Jerusalem.
Erdoğan Has Put Gaza at the Center of His UN Message
Netanyahu’s attack on Erdoğan comes amid a prolonged war of words between Ankara and the Israeli government over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
Erdoğan has repeatedly used international platforms, including the UN General Assembly, to draw attention to civilian casualties and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, calling on the international community to take action.
During an earlier UN address, the Turkish president displayed photographs depicting conditions faced by Palestinians in Gaza as he criticized Israel’s military operations.
Türkiye has continued to condemn the Netanyahu government over civilian deaths and humanitarian conditions in Gaza. Israel, meanwhile, says its military operations target Hamas and rejects accusations that it is committing genocide.
Netanyahu’s latest remarks have now brought the increasingly confrontational rhetoric between the two governments directly back to the UN General Assembly podium.
