Turkey rejects Netanyahu's UN accusations

Turkey has rejected accusations made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly. Netanyahu had criticized President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, calling him a “tyrant” and accusing Turkey of harboring Hamas leaders and spreading “antisemitic lies.”

In response, Burhanettin Duran, the director of communications for the Turkish presidency, described the allegations as “without foundation” and stated they contradict the principles of peace and dialogue embodied by the UN. Duran argued that Netanyahu’s statements cannot obscure the humanitarian catastrophe and massacres occurring in Gaza.

Speaking at a business forum in Istanbul, President Erdogan stated that “war criminals do not belong at the UN podium, but in courts, where they will answer for the crimes they have committed and the blood they have shed.” While not naming Netanyahu directly, Erdogan emphasized the need for accountability for genocide and expressed support for the Palestinian people in their pursuit of justice.