Tensions between Israel and Turkey escalated over the past week, as leaders exchanged pointed accusations amid a deepening geopolitical rift centred on the ongoing war in Gaza and the competing influence in Syria.
In a post on X, Netanyahu accused Turkish President Erdogan of “massacring his own Kurdish citizens” and “accommodating Iran’s terror regime and its proxies”.
Netanyahu has increasingly shifted his rhetoric towards Turkey in recent months, as Ankara moves closer to Greece and the Republic of Cyprus.
Analysts say the emerging rivalry is likely to centre on Syria, where competing interests have long simmered.
Turkey responded with sharp condemnation, with officials in Ankara describing Netanyahu as the “Hitler of the era”, citing Israel’s military actions in Gaza and across the region.
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“Netanyahu’s current objective is to undermine ongoing peace negotiations and continue his expansionist policies in the region. Failing this, he risks being tried in his own country and is likely to be sentenced to imprisonment,” Turkey’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
The ministry added that an arrest warrant had been issued for Netanyahu by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
“Under Netanyahu’s administration, Israel is facing proceedings before the International Court of Justice on charges of genocide,” the statement said.
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The clash intensified after Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz called the Turkish president a “Muslim Brotherhood man, who massacred Kurds”.
Katz also criticised Erdogan for what he described as inaction in response to Iranian missile activity and accused him of resorting to inflammatory rhetoric.
“Turkish President Erdogan, who did not respond to missile fire from Iran into Turkish territory and was revealed as a paper tiger, is fleeing to the realms of antisemitism and declaring field trials in Turkey against Israel’s political and military leadership,” Katz said.
Meanwhile, senior Turkish officials, including communications chief Burhanettin Duran, accused Netanyahu of destabilising the region for political survival.
“Netanyahu, who has orchestrated a genocide in Gaza and attacked seven countries in the region, dares targeting our President out of desperation. He is a criminal with arrest warrants to his name with no friends left,” Duran said.
Duran said that Israel’s actions across multiple countries is “dragging the region to chaos and conflict as a political survival strategy” adding that Netanyahu has “no legitimacy to lecture anyone”.
“He will be held accountable sooner or later for his crimes against humanity,” Durran said.
Increasing territorial claims
The escalating rhetoric follows Netanyahu’s televised address, which drew attention not only for its tone but also for a map displayed behind him.
While the pre-recorded speech focused heavily on Iran, critics said the map suggested an expanded view of Israeli territorial control, particularly over Palestinian areas, raising concerns about annexation and violations of international law.
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The deterioration in Israel-Turkey relations marks a significant shift in regional dynamics. While being strategic partners, the two countries have seen ties fluctuate over the past decade, often strained by disagreements over Gaza, Palestinian statehood and broader Middle East policy.
Last August, Turkey imposed restrictions on Israeli-owned and linked ships, barring them from visiting the country’s ports.
Reuters reported that Turkish port authorities have begun informally requiring shipping agents to provide written assurances that vessels are not connected to Israel and are not carrying military or hazardous cargo to Turkish ports.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also urged Islamic nations to work towards suspending Israel from participation in United Nations General Assembly meetings and activities.
Speaking at an emergency summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation foreign ministers in Riyadh, Fidan called for collective action to end Israel’s actions in Gaza and settler violence in the occupied West Bank.
Turkey also backs The Hague Group, a bloc of eight countries consisting of Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Honduras, Malaysia, Namibia, Senegal and South Africa, with the stated goal of holding Israel accountable under international law.
Relations between Turkey and Israel have deteriorated sharply since last year, when Ankara joined South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide and began mobilising international support against Israel’s military campaign.
