Turkey has rejected as “baseless” the allegations made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the UN General Assembly. In a heated speech delivered on Thursday, Netanyahu referred to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a “dictator” and accused Turkey of harboring Hamas leaders.
Netanyahu’s remarks sparked a strong reaction in the UN assembly hall. Dozens of delegates from various countries walked out, while some jeered and made sarcastic comments during his speech. The session’s president called for order amidst the commotion. Meanwhile, members of the accompanying Israeli delegation stood and applauded.
In his speech, Netanyahu stated, “Turkey has become the latest major purveyor of antisemitic lies.” He then referred to Erdogan as a “dictator,” adding, “He also harbors Hamas’s terrorist leaders.”
Conversely, Erdogan has been critical of the international community regarding Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza. He has urged world leaders to exert more pressure on Israel over the situation in Gaza and has called on various nations to recognize Palestine as an independent state.
Fahrettin Altun, the Turkish Presidency’s Communications Director, strongly criticized Netanyahu’s remarks. He stated that the “baseless allegations” made against Turkey and President Erdogan from the UN General Assembly podium were inconsistent with the UN’s ideals of peace, law, and dialogue.
Altun added that Netanyahu’s statements would not succeed in “masking the killings in Gaza, the resulting humanitarian catastrophe, and the ongoing proceedings under international law.”
Source: AFP and Anadolu Agency
