Turkish official accuses Israel of trying to ‘hide war crimes’ by targeting Erdogan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan talks during a military parade, in the Turkish-occupied area of the divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, July 20, 2024. (AP/Petros Karadjias)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan talks during a military parade, in the Turkish-occupied area of the divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, July 20, 2024. (AP/Petros Karadjias)

ISTANBUL  — A senior official in Ankara accuses the Israeli government of trying to “hide your war crimes” by targeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after he seemingly threatened to invade Israel.

Fahrettin Altun, Erdogan’s head of communications, writes on X that those who threaten the Turkish president “do so at their own peril.”

He also accuses Israel of “ongoing genocide in Palestine.”

In televised remarks to ruling party officials late last night, Erdoğan appeared to threaten to invade Israel in support of the Palestinians and to put an end to the nearly 10-month-old war Israel is fighting against Hamas in Gaza.

Turkey must be “very strong so that Israel can’t do these things to the Palestinians,” the Turkish leader said of the war. “Just as we entered [Nagorno-]Karabakh, just as we entered Libya, we might do the same to them. There is nothing we can’t do. We must only be strong.”

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report. 

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