Turkish Foreign Minister Calls Israel a Global Problem, Israeli FM Labels It Genocidal Incitement

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan sharply criticized Israel in a Thursday interview with CNN Turk, declaring that Israel has become a problem for the entire international community, not just Turkey. He stated that Israeli authorities have become an unbearable burden for humanity and emphasized Turkey's firm stance, recalling that Turkey was the first to halt $10 billion in trade with Israel due to aggression in Gaza. "Our president stopped trade with Israel overnight," Fidan said, urging decisive action.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar condemned Fidan's remarks as "disgusting" and "clear incitement to genocide." Sa'ar accused Fidan of dehumanizing the Jewish people by portraying them as an "unbearable burden," a rhetoric historically used by major oppressors. He called on the civilized world and Turkey's NATO allies to unequivocally denounce this explicit call for Israel's destruction.

Fidan's comments follow a series of harsh criticisms from Turkey toward Israel since October 7. Earlier this week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan responded to Israel's historic recognition of the Armenian genocide by dismissing accusations against Turkey as baseless and highlighting Turkey's humanitarian history. Erdoğan emphasized Turkey's legacy of compassion, sheltering persecuted groups, and moral nobility, contrasting it with what he described as Israel's barbarity in Gaza.

On Sunday, Israel's government unanimously approved Foreign Minister Sa'ar's proposal to recognize the Armenian genocide, with Sa'ar stating, "It is never too late to do the right thing." The tensions between the two countries continue amid concerns in Israel about potential U.S. moves to reintegrate Turkey into the F-35 fighter jet program.