Türkiye has rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s accusations against the country and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, delivering its formal response at the U.N. General Assembly through a diplomat of third-secretary rank.
“We categorically reject the baseless and malicious accusations against Türkiye and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan,” the diplomat said while exercising Türkiye’s right of reply.
In his Sept. 24 address to the assembly’s 81st session, Netanyahu accused Erdoğan and Türkiye of spreading antisemitic lies and hosting Hamas leaders.
The Turkish statement described the walkout by numerous delegations during Netanyahu’s speech as a strong diplomatic condemnation, saying it reflected rejection of his policies and his growing international isolation.
It also pointed to the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Netanyahu, issued in November 2024 for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The statement accused Netanyahu of using his allegations to conceal Israel’s genocide in Gaza and aggression in the occupied West Bank, Lebanon and Syria.
It cited civilian killings, the destruction of homes and hospitals, deliberate attacks on schools and obstruction of humanitarian aid.
“While Israel exports war, destruction and instability, Türkiye is building peace,” it said.
Türkiye reiterated its support for a two-state solution and an independent, sovereign Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Communications Director Burhanettin Duran also condemned Netanyahu’s remarks, saying they could not conceal the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza or the international legal proceedings against him.
He said using the U.N. podium for such accusations contradicted the organization’s ideals of peace, law and dialogue.
Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) spokesman Ömer Çelik accused Netanyahu of turning attacks on Erdoğan into part of his election campaign.
Speaking to CNN Türk, Çelik said the remarks constituted an attack on Türkiye as a whole.
Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum said propaganda could not erase the bloodshed and reaffirmed Türkiye’s support for the Palestinians.
