Gaza Conflict: Turkey's Erdogan compares Israeli PM Netanyahu to Hitler

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan compared Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies for Gaza to those of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, saying they were “no different.”

Erdogan has previously likened Israel to Nazi Germany. During a conflict with Gaza in July 2014, the Turkish president charged Israel of “keeping Hitler’s spirit alive”.

According to the official Anadolu Agency, Erdogan’s criticism of Israel amid the present conflict has significantly increased. Additionally, he has declared that Hamas is not a terrorist group.

After Erdogan charged Israel with war crimes in October, Israel withdrew its diplomats from Turkey. Later on, Israel’s ambassador was also called back by Turkey.

After Erdogan charged Israel with war crimes in October, Israel withdrew its diplomats from Turkey. Later on, Israel’s ambassador was also called back by Turkey.

Before Erdogan took office, Israel was a longstanding regional friend of Turkey. However, relations soured following an Israeli commando raid in 2010 on the Mavi Marmara, a ship that was headed for Gaza as part of a flotilla that was breaking up blockades, which resulted in the deaths of ten Turkish activists who had fought IDF soldiers on board.

Since then, there have been ups and downs in the two countries’ relations.

Erdogan and Netanyahu had their first in late September in New York, where they explored potential areas of collaboration between Turkey and Israel. Simultaneously, Turkey has close relations to Hamas, the terrorist organisation responsible for the horrific October 7 attack that claimed the lives of almost 1,200 people in southern Israel and kidnapped and held captive 240 more in Gaza.

(With agency inputs)