Turkish president, Israeli premier exchange accusations over morality

ArmInfo. In another bout of fiery remarks, Turkish President Erdogan, who has refused to condemn  Hamas's October 7 attacks, compares Netanyahu to fascist leaders and Israel akin to a war criminal state.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered another antisemitic  speech, during which he compared Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to  fascist leaders on Saturday.

In the speech, Erdogan compared Netanyahu to historical fascist  leaders, stating that "Netanyahu earned his place alongside Hitler,  Mussolini, and Stalin." 

The Turkish President also refused to condemn Hamas's actions on  October 7 and even stood by the terrorist group in his rhetoric.  Erdogan accused Israel of acting as "the Nazis of our time while  committing humanitarian crimes in Gaza." He refused to call Hamas a  terrorist organization: "We cannot be coerced into designating Hamas  as a terrorist organization. We communicate with them openly and  stand behind them."

Israeli response to Erdogan's fiery rhetoric 

In response, Netanyahu said, "Israel observes the laws of war and  will not be subject to moral preaching from Erdogan, who supports  murderers and rapists of the Hamas terrorist organization, denies the  Armenian genocide, massacres Kurds in his own country, and cracks  down on regime opponents and journalists."

National Unity Party leader Benny Gantz weighed in on this exchange,  criticizing Erdogan for his support of Hamas. "Erdogan standing with  Hamas makes him a supporter of crimes against humanity, and comparing  the Prime Minister of Israel to dictators is the height of  hypocrisy," Gantz stated in a post to X.

"The fact that Erdogan believes that Hamas is not a terrorist  organization explains his conduct towards his own citizens. Israel  will continue to adhere to international law even in a war against  those who have proven to have no humanity."