Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz clashed over the struggle in Gaza throughout a joint press convention in Ankara on Thursday.
Whereas Merz reaffirmed Germany’s agency help for Israel, Erdoğan once more accused the nation of committing “genocide.”
The Turkish chief famous that Israel launched main airstrikes on Gaza this week, regardless of the ceasefire that entered into power on October 10. Israel mentioned on Wednesday it had “renewed” its enforcement of the ceasefire.
“They don’t seem to be solely attacking Gaza, however have at all times been intent on subjugating Gaza by starvation and genocide, and that is nonetheless ongoing,” Erdoğan mentioned.
Erdoğan’s remarks got here in response to Merz, who advised a Turkish journalist that Israel had turn into a refuge for tens of millions of Jews, together with many who survived the Holocaust. “That’s the reason Germany will at all times stand firmly by the facet of the State of Israel,” he mentioned.
The chancellor added that Israel had exercised its “proper to self-defence” after the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led assault, saying the devastating struggle may have been prevented if Hamas had launched hostages earlier and laid down its arms.
“Then this struggle would have ended instantly,” mentioned the German chancellor.
Erdoğan replied that he didn’t agree with Merz, arguing that Hamas had no nuclear or heavy weapons, whereas Israel possessed such arms and had bombed Gaza once more regardless of the ceasefire agreed to 2 weeks in the past.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz meets with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara. Merz is on his inaugural go to to Turkey. Michael Kappeler/dpa
