Israeli Ministers Launch Fierce Verbal Attack on Erdoğan Amid Escalating Tensions

Israeli officials launched a series of sharp attacks on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday, further escalating tensions between Ankara and Tel Aviv following recent exchanges over the war in Gaza and regional security.

Israeli Minister for Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli accused Erdoğan of supporting both Hamas and ISIS in a post on X. Chikli described the Turkish president as "a distorted hybrid of Hitler and Sinwar" and shared an AI-generated image depicting Erdoğan in front of Nazi and ISIS flags.

In his post, Chikli wrote that authoritarian leaders driven by power eventually face defeat, adding that the Jewish people "have never feared mere mortals, from Pharaoh until today." He concluded by calling Erdoğan "a bloodstained nobody who history will soon forget."

The remarks came in response to a speech delivered by Erdoğan last month, in which he described Zionism as "an expansionist ideology aimed at genocide" and said that opposing it was essential for the collective survival of his nation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also criticized Erdoğan during an interview with Fox News, warning against the potential sale of advanced US weapons, particularly F-35 fighter jets, to Turkey.

Netanyahu argued that Turkey is led by a leader who openly calls for Israel's destruction and speaks publicly about "liberating Jerusalem." He added that providing F-35 aircraft to a government he described as being influenced by the Muslim Brotherhood would undermine Israel's military advantage and the regional balance of power.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar also targeted his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan after Fidan described Israel as "a burden humanity can no longer bear." Speaking at a press conference in Jerusalem, Sa'ar said such statements amounted to incitement to genocide, arguing that dehumanizing language is often the first step toward mass atrocities.

The latest exchange comes as Turkey hosts the NATO summit and receives a visit from US President Donald Trump, with relations between Turkey and Israel remaining at one of their lowest points in recent years. Disputes over the Gaza war, Turkey's support for Hamas, and discussions over possible US arms sales to Ankara have further intensified regional tensions.