Ankara, March 27, 2026 – The Europe Today: Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday strongly criticized the Israeli administration, describing it as a “hatred-fueled genocide network” and warning that its actions are pushing the region toward one of its most severe crises in recent history.
Addressing provincial leaders of his ruling Justice and Development Party in the Turkish capital Ankara, Erdogan said the ongoing conflict involving Iran is engulfing the region in “blood and gunpowder,” citing attacks that have reportedly affected civilians, including children.
The Turkish president warned that the Benjamin Netanyahu government is not only targeting Iran but may also be advancing plans to extend military operations toward Lebanon.
“Although the war is Israel’s war, the heavy cost it produces is first paid by Muslims, and then by all of humanity,” Erdogan said, emphasizing the broader humanitarian consequences of the conflict.
He reiterated that Türkiye does not discriminate among its regional partners and will not remain indifferent to the suffering of neighboring nations. Erdogan stressed that Ankara opposes any actions that deepen divisions among “brotherly peoples” or fuel further instability in the region.
Highlighting the shared human toll across the Middle East, Erdogan questioned the distinction between victims in cities such as Isfahan, Tabriz, Tehran, Erbil, Amman, Baghdad, Beirut, Sana’a, Doha, and Riyadh, underscoring the collective impact of ongoing hostilities.
The Turkish leader also condemned restrictions on Muslim worship at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, calling the reported prevention of Eid prayers—described as the first such instance since 1967—an “impertinent” violation of religious freedom affecting Muslims worldwide.
Erdogan reaffirmed that the right to worship at Al-Aqsa Mosque cannot be restricted under any circumstances and criticized Israeli policies in this regard.
Concluding his remarks, he pledged that Türkiye would remain committed to its peaceful foreign policy approach, grounded in the principles of peace, stability, and shared prosperity for all nations.
