Istanbul, June 21, 2025 – The Europe Today: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday strongly condemned the Israeli government’s actions in the Middle East, declaring Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration as “the greatest obstacle to regional peace.” Speaking during the 51st session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul, Erdogan criticized Israel’s continued military offensives and their devastating impact on civilian populations.
“Let me state this openly and bluntly: with all these atrocities, with all these attacks, the Netanyahu government is the greatest obstacle to regional peace,” Erdogan said. He underscored that Israel has been deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure — including hospitals, schools, mosques, and churches — and committing violence against innocent women and children.
The Turkish leader went further to compare the humanitarian crisis in Gaza to historical atrocities. “Palestinians in Gaza are living under conditions even worse than those of the concentration camps of the Nazi forces,” Erdogan stated, drawing a direct parallel between Israel’s actions and Nazi-era oppression. He also likened Netanyahu’s “Zionist ambitions” to the destructive vision of Adolf Hitler, warning that such goals threaten global peace.
Condemning Israel’s recent cross-border attacks, Erdogan denounced airstrikes carried out in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iran, particularly highlighting the June 13 assault on Tehran, which he labeled an act of “state terrorism.”
Defending Iran’s right to respond to Israeli aggression, Erdogan criticized Israel’s stance on Iran’s nuclear programme, accusing Tel Aviv of blatant hypocrisy. “While enriching its nuclear capacity without abiding by any rules — and this is the greatest hypocrisy displayed by Israel — with the attacks carried out on the 13th of June, the Netanyahu government aimed to undermine the negotiation process,” he said.
Erdogan warned that such actions indicate the Israeli leadership’s unwillingness to pursue diplomatic resolutions. “Netanyahu’s government and his murderers have no intention of resolving issues through diplomacy,” he asserted.
The Turkish President concluded his address by urging the international community to take decisive steps in de-escalating tensions and holding Israel accountable. He called for immediate restraint of Israeli rhetoric and action to prevent further destabilization in the already volatile region.
