Erdoğan: Israel's death penalty for Palestinians akin to Hitler's policies

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered a scathing rebuke of Israel’s Knesset on Friday, comparing its decision to apply the death penalty solely to Palestinian prisoners to Nazi Germany’s persecution of Jews. Speaking at the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) Women’s Wing, Erdoğan declared: “What is being done is discrimination, it is racism, it means implementing in Israel a worse version of the apartheid regime that was overthrown in South Africa in 1994.”

Apartheid and Racist Fascism

Erdoğan argued that imposing capital punishment exclusively on Palestinians amounts to “apartheid” and transforms the law into an “instrument of racist fascism.” He stressed that such a selective application of the death penalty has no place in any legal system and that the international community must not remain silent in the face of this injustice. The Turkish president has repeatedly criticised Israel’s policies toward the Palestinian people and has called for united action to end the occupation and protect Palestinian rights.

Türkiye’s Continued Advocacy

Türkiye has consistently championed the Palestinian cause on international platforms, urging Islamic and other nations to take a firm stand against Israeli violations. Erdoğan’s remarks at the ICAPP meeting underline Ankara’s commitment to exposing what it sees as double standards in international law and to holding Israel accountable for its actions in the occupied territories. The condemnation comes as Israel presses ahead with military offensives in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, further inflaming regional tensions.