Turkey's Erdoğan compares Netanyahu to Hitler, slams "silent" Germany

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stands in front of two microphones, behind him are several Turkish flags, Ankara, Turkey, 27 November 2023
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan criticised Germany for its refusal to condemn Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu over civilian losses in Gaza (image: Mustafa Kamaci/Anadolu/picture alliance | Mustafa Kamaci)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday again attacked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for Israel's actions in Gaza, drawing a parallel between him and Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.

"How are you different from Hitler?" Erdoğan said at a science awards ceremony in Ankara, referring to Israel's bombing of the besieged Gaza Strip. "Is there anything Netanyahu has done that is less than Hitler? No," Erdoğan added.

With support from Washington, Netanyahu's government has been able to kill over 20,000 Gazans, Erdoğan said.

Hamas authorities in Gaza said on Wednesday that more than 21,000 Palestinians have now been killed there as a result of the war.

The Turkish leader went on to criticise Germany for its refusal to condemn Netanyahu over civilian losses in Gaza. "I say this clearly, look: Germany today still continues to pay the price for what Hitler did. That is why Germany is silent, it has its head bowed," Erdoğan said. "We are not indebted to anyone. The West is indebted, they can't speak up, because they are indebted."

Netanyahu reacted to Erdoğan's comments on the social media platform X. "Erdoğan, who is committing genocide against the Kurds and who holds the world record for imprisoning journalists who oppose his regime, is the last person who can preach morality to us," Netanyahu wrote.

Netanyahu further accused Erdoğan of "praising" Hamas and "hosting" its senior officials.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog strongly opposed Erdoğan's statements. Erdoğan's words were deeply offensive to every Jew around the world, Herzog said on Wednesday evening. Herzog charged that Erdoğan had violated the memory of millions of Jews who were murdered by the Nazis.

Israel attacked Gaza following a rampage by militants from Hamas and other groups on 7 October, which killed more than 1,200 people in Israeli communities near the border with the Gaza Strip. Hamas also abducted around 240 hostages from Israel to the strip.

Israel says its military operation in Gaza is essential to eradicate Hamas and prevent attacks like the one on 7 October happening again.

It was the worst massacre in the state of Israel's history.

The Holocaust perpetrated by Nazi Germany and Austria during World War II killed around 6 million Jews before the modern Jewish state of Israel was founded. (dpa)