Ankara, June 19, 2025 – The Europe Today: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday strongly condemned Israel’s military actions in the Middle East, affirming Iran’s right to self-defence and denouncing what he termed as “state terrorism” committed by the Israeli leadership.
Speaking at the parliamentary group meeting of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party in Ankara, President Erdoğan stated, “It is entirely natural, legitimate, and lawful for Iran to defend itself against Israel’s banditry and state terrorism.” His remarks come amid an intensification of Israeli strikes targeting Iran and its regional allies.
Highlighting the humanitarian consequences of the conflict, Erdoğan issued a scathing critique of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying: “Netanyahu has long surpassed the tyrant Hitler in the crime of genocide. We hope their fates will not be the same.”
He added that Türkiye is making every effort to halt the “inhumane aggression” in Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, and Iran. “The blood of massacred civilians, murdered babies, and children is splattered not only on the hands and faces of those who support Israel’s arrogance but also on those who remain silent,” Erdoğan warned.
The Turkish President stressed the importance of vigilance in the face of ongoing regional volatility, noting that Türkiye’s institutions are closely monitoring the situation. “We are closely observing Israel’s terrorist attacks on Iran. All our institutions are on alert over the potential effects of these attacks on Türkiye,” he said.
He reassured the Turkish people of the government’s preparedness, stating: “Our nation can rest assured. The government is fully committed to safeguarding Türkiye’s interests, peace, unity, and security. We have made and are making preparations for every possible negative development and scenario.”
Erdoğan also expressed frustration over the inaction of the international community in the face of escalating violence. “In the face of aggression carried out before the eyes of humanity, the UN, international organisations, and states remain silent, while some even support this banditry,” he said.
Calling for greater accountability and action, the President underlined the broader consequences of the crisis. “Stopping Israel’s aggression is essential for the world and humanity. All countries in our region, including our neighbour Iran, must learn the necessary lessons from these events.”
He reaffirmed Türkiye’s long-standing commitment to peace and diplomatic resolution, concluding: “Our fight to stop Israel’s aggression will continue. Our efforts to establish peace in the region will intensify. We will not pause our diplomatic contacts and phone diplomacy. We will do everything possible to prevent a disaster that could affect everyone.”
