Türkiye slams Israeli PM office for 'insolent rants' targeting Erdogan

Türkiye's Communications Directorate on Friday issued a strong condemnation of remarks by the Israeli Prime Minister's Office targeting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, describing them as baseless attacks aimed at diverting attention from accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Statement slams 'insolent rants'

The directorate said in a statement posted on Turkish social media platform NSosyal that the remarks reflected the helplessness of an administration seeking to evade accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity. "The insolent rants of the Israeli Prime Minister's Office targeting our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which are devoid of "historical facts and political seriousness," are yet another indication of the helplessness of an administration seeking to evade accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity," the directorate said, arguing that such rhetoric shows how deeply Ankara's voice has disturbed certain circles.

It described what it called the "cheap politics" of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his associates as an attempt to gain electoral advantage, stating that such tactics hold no standing in Israeli society, the region, the international community or Türkiye. "The Netanyahu administration's effort to construct Türkiye as a new threat figure is also part of this cheap politics," the statement added, warning that escalating tensions for the sake of domestic political competition posed serious risks not only to Israeli society but also to regional and global peace.

Commitment to 'oppressed'

The directorate emphasized that recent developments demonstrate Israel's election campaign is increasingly shaped by irresponsible security populism and aggressive threat politics. "Türkiye, as in the past, will continue to stand against the oppressor and by the side of the oppressed, and will resolutely defend peace, justice and stability in our region, whatever the cost," it said.

Interpol request

Earlier on Friday, Ankara requested Interpol red notices for Netanyahu and another Israeli defendant as part of an ongoing prosecution regarding an Israeli attack on activists aboard the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla. The move comes amid heightened tensions between the two countries over the Gaza war and Israeli military actions in the region, according to Turkish judicial sources.