In his second UN speech in 24 hours, Turkey’s President Erdogan accused Israel of “genocide” in Gaza, ignoring Hamas’ October 7 massacre and hostage crisis.
For the second time in just 24 hours, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan used the United Nations stage to launch a fierce attack on Israel, denouncing its military campaign in Gaza as “genocide” and calling for an immediate halt to operations.
Erdoğan claimed Israel was driving a humanitarian catastrophe, urging world leaders to stop the IDF and allow more aid into the Gaza Strip. His remarks made no mention of Hamas’ October 7 terror attack, in which 1,200 Israelis were murdered and 251 hostages taken into Gaza, nor of the terror group’s continued refusal to release captives.
The Turkish leader’s rhetoric mirrors that of Hamas’ defenders in the region, framing Israel’s counterterrorism campaign as illegitimate while sidestepping the role of Iran-backed militias and Hamas’ use of civilians as human shields.
Israel has repeatedly stressed that its war is aimed at dismantling Hamas’ terror infrastructure and freeing hostages, not targeting civilians. Jerusalem has also accused Erdoğan of granting Hamas political cover, while Turkey continues to position itself as a vocal critic of Israel in international forums.
Erdoğan’s speech underscored the polarization at the UN General Assembly, where multiple countries have rushed to recognize a Palestinian state even as hostages remain in Gaza and Hamas refuses to disarm.For the second time in just 24 hours, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan used the United Nations stage to launch a fierce attack on Israel, denouncing its military campaign in Gaza as “genocide” and calling for an immediate halt to operations.
Erdoğan claimed Israel was driving a humanitarian catastrophe, urging world leaders to stop the IDF and allow more aid into the Gaza Strip. His remarks made no mention of Hamas’ October 7 terror attack, in which 1,200 Israelis were murdered and 251 hostages taken into Gaza, nor of the terror group’s continued refusal to release captives.
The Turkish leader’s rhetoric mirrors that of Hamas’ defenders in the region, framing Israel’s counterterrorism campaign as illegitimate while sidestepping the role of Iran-backed militias and Hamas’ use of civilians as human shields.
Israel has repeatedly stressed that its war is aimed at dismantling Hamas’ terror infrastructure and freeing hostages, not targeting civilians. Jerusalem has also accused Erdoğan of granting Hamas political cover, while Turkey continues to position itself as a vocal critic of Israel in international forums.
Erdoğan’s speech underscored the polarization at the UN General Assembly, where multiple countries have rushed to recognize a Palestinian state even as hostages remain in Gaza and Hamas refuses to disarm.
