Türkiye has accused Israel of spreading “lies and slanders” against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in the latest escalation of tensions between the two regional powers over Gaza and Syria.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry on Saturday rejected remarks by Israel’s Foreign Ministry targeting Erdoğan, saying they reflected what it called the “cowardly and rotten mentality” of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
Israel’s criticism followed a speech by Erdoğan on Friday in which he accused the Israeli government of seeking to destabilise the Middle East and described Zionism as a “radical, occupying and genocidal ideology”.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry responded by condemning Erdoğan’s rhetoric and accusations against Israel, prompting Ankara’s latest statement.
“The lies and slanders targeting our President in the statement issued by the Israeli Foreign Ministry reflect the cowardly and rotten mentality of the criminals serving in the Israeli government, particularly Netanyahu,” Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry said.
Speaking at a Mawlid al-Nabi Week event in Istanbul on Friday, Erdoğan accused Israel’s “war-obsessed government” of using provocations to destabilise the region. He also criticised Israeli actions in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon and called for greater unity across the Islamic world.
Türkiye has been among Israel’s strongest critics over the Gaza war and has repeatedly accused Netanyahu’s government of genocide. Israel rejects the allegation, saying its military operations target Hamas.
Relations have deteriorated further over Syria, where Türkiye has emerged as a major supporter of President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s government following the fall of Bashar al-Assad in 2024.
Israel has become increasingly concerned about Ankara’s influence there. Earlier this month, Israeli forces struck Syria’s Abu al-Duhur airbase after Israel said Turkish troops were preparing to deploy there. Türkiye denied plans for a permanent deployment and condemned the strike as a violation of Syrian sovereignty.
The two countries have since exchanged increasingly sharp warnings, with Israel accusing Türkiye of pursuing “dangerous adventures in Syria” and Ankara accusing Netanyahu of expansionist and destabilising policies.
The disputes over Gaza and Syria have transformed what was already a strained relationship into an increasingly direct regional rivalry, despite efforts to prevent their competing interests in Syria from escalating into a military confrontation.
Iran has unveiled the restored mausoleum of 13th-century mystic Shams Tabrizi in the northwestern city of Khoy, with plans for a cultural tourism r...
Georgia is enjoying one of its biggest and highest-quality grape harvests since independence. By 6 October, growers in the country's main wine-...
Ukrainian drone strikes have hit two Yandex data centres in Russia on consecutive days, disrupting digital services as Kyiv intensifies attacks on ...
Leaders of countries from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) have agreed to hold coordinated population censuses around 2030. They took the decision at the CIS Council of Heads of State meeting in Awaza, Turkmenistan on Friday, media reported.
Azerbaijan and the five Central Asian states have signed two key documents at the 8th Consultative Meeting of Heads of State in Turkmenbashi, formalising a broader framework for regional cooperation in transport, trade, energy, digitalisation and security.
It started with classrooms. Too many students, not enough teachers, deteriorating buildings and growing anxiety over what comes after high school. But within weeks, a movement that began outside French lycées had spread across the country.
Britain and Israel have reached a temporary compromise over the future of the British Consulate General in East Jerusalem, easing a diplomatic dispute that had threatened to further strain relations between the two countries.
The Nobel Peace Prize 2026 will be announced on Friday, 9 October, bringing one of the world's most closely watched awards back into focus.
Ukrainian drone strikes have hit two Yandex data centres in Russia on consecutive days, disrupting digital services as Kyiv intensifies attacks on Russia's digital infrastructure.
The U.S. has imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday (9 October) escalating tensions with European allies and potentially targeting companies that provide services to the tribunal. The move came hours after former ICC judge Navi Pillay won the Nobel Peace Prize.
Azerbaijan has made history at the 2026 World Judo Championships in Baku, claiming a record five medals and climbing to second place in the standings behind Japan as more than 620 athletes from over 90 countries compete in the Azerbaijani capital.
Student protests are gaining momentum across France over worsening school conditions, as online calls for nationwide demonstrations on 17 October raise the prospect of wider unrest.
Riot police used water cannon and tear gas to disperse protesters in Brussels on Friday, 9 October, as students joined workers in a nationwide strike against government austerity measures and spending cuts.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment