Erdogan likens Netanyahu to Hitler amidst Israeli bombardment of Gaza

Amid recent escalation of tensions between Turkey and Israel, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has drawn parallels between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Adolf Hitler during an awards ceremony in Ankara. Erdogan questioned the differences between the two leaders, criticizing Israel's actions in Gaza and asserting that Netanyahu's conduct was no less than that of Hitler.

The Turkish leader accused Netanyahu of receiving substantial support from the West, particularly the United States, and argued that despite such backing, Israel's actions resulted in the deaths of over 20,000 Gazans.

Erdogan's remarks signal a notable shift in Turkey's stance towards Israel, reversing a trend of improving relations between the two nations before Israel assaulted Gaza.

Netanyahu responded by pointing to Turkey's own record of alleged human rights abuses, particularly in its conflict with Kurdish armed groups. The Israeli Prime Minister criticized Erdogan for committing what he termed as "genocide against the Kurds" and for suppressing opposition voices, including journalists.

Despite the heated exchange between the leaders, Turkey has maintained commercial ties with Israel throughout the nearly three-month-long assault on Gaza. The conflict, described as a "genocidal" campaign, has resulted in a devastating humanitarian toll, with over 21,000 casualties, 55,000 injuries, and the displacement of almost the entire 2.3 million population of Gaza.

This verbal sparring between Erdogan and Netanyahu comes amid growing regional outrage over the situation in Gaza. Turkey's criticism of Israel has intensified, with Erdogan previously labelling Israel as a "terror state" with unwavering Western support.

The roots of the current tensions can be traced back to October 7 when the Palestinian armed group Hamas initiated an attack on southern Israel, leading to a series of Israeli bombings.