Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared on May 7, 2026, that Israel's policies constitute the primary security threat in the region, speaking at a joint news conference in Ankara. Erdogan stated, "Israeli aggression has once again shown that the main security problem for our region is the expansionist, lawless and norm-defying policies of the current government." Alongside him, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune condemned Israel's actions in Gaza and Lebanon. President Tebboune said, "We condemn the Israeli occupation, its violations of international humanitarian law, its blatant attacks on Lebanon, and its barbaric practices in the Gaza Strip."
Erdogan's Accusations Against Israel
Turkish officials described Benjamin Netanyahu as the "Hitler of the era," citing Israel's military actions in Gaza and across the region. Turkey's foreign ministry stated, "Netanyahu’s current objective is to undermine ongoing peace negotiations and continue his expansionist policies in the region. Failing this, he risks being tried in his own country and is likely to be sentenced to imprisonment." The ministry also claimed an arrest warrant had been issued for Netanyahu by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. According to the foreign ministry, "Under Netanyahu’s administration, Israel is facing proceedings before the International Court of Justice on charges of genocide." Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan urged Islamic nations to work towards suspending Israel from participation in United Nations General Assembly meetings and activities. Turkey also supports The Hague Group, a bloc of eight countries aiming to hold Israel accountable under international law.
Israeli Counter-Accusations and Regional Tensions
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of "massacring his own Kurdish citizens" and "accommodating Iran’s terror regime and its proxies." Netanyahu's rhetoric has increasingly shifted towards Turkey, particularly as Ankara strengthens its ties with Greece and the Republic of Cyprus. Analysts suggest this emerging rivalry will likely focus on Syria, a region where both nations have long held competing interests.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz echoed these sentiments, calling the Turkish president a "Muslim Brotherhood man, who massacred Kurds." Katz further criticized Erdogan for his perceived inaction regarding Iranian missile activity, accusing him of resorting to antisemitism. "Turkish President Erdogan, who did not respond to missile fire from Iran into Turkish territory and was revealed as a paper tiger, is fleeing to the realms of antisemitism and declaring field trials in Turkey against Israel's political and military leadership," Katz stated. Separately, during a televised address, Netanyahu presented a map that critics claimed suggested an expanded view of Israeli territorial control, encompassing Palestinian areas.
Turkey's Diplomatic and Economic Stance
Burhanettin Duran claimed that Prime Minister Netanyahu orchestrated a genocide in Gaza and attacked seven countries in the region. Turkey has also taken economic and diplomatic steps amid the tensions. Last August, Turkey imposed restrictions on Israeli-owned and linked ships, barring them from visiting the country’s ports. Turkish port authorities have since informally required shipping agents to provide written assurances that vessels are not connected to Israel and are not carrying military or hazardous cargo to Turkish ports. Relations between Turkey and Israel have sharply deteriorated since last year, when Ankara joined South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of genocide.
