Turkish Politicians Angered by Netanyahu's Insult to Erdogan

Benjamin Netanyahu's aggressive statements, calling the Turkish President a "paper tiger" and demanding that he remain silent, provoked an angry reaction from Turkish politicians and senior officials.

News ID: 87653

Date: 13 April 2026 - 08:39

TEHRAN (Defapress) - Benjamin Netanyahu's insulting remarks against Recep Tayyip Erdogan provoked a sharp reaction from Turkish ministers and politicians. The Israeli Prime Minister had called the Turkish President a "paper tiger" and demanded that he keep his mouth shut.

In response to Benjamin Netanyahu's statements against Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Minister of Justice said: "The rude and baseless statements of the head of the genocide network in Israel against our President, who is a pioneer of diplomacy for peace and the voice of the global conscience, are never acceptable."

Akın GÜRLEK stated: "The fact that a person for whom the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant is targeting Turkey and our President clearly shows the depth of Netanyahu's legal and moral impasse. Turkey continues to be a pioneer in diplomacy for peace based on international law and will firmly stand by the right and the oppressed and pursue the crimes committed by Netanyahu."

Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, Minister of Family and Social Services, also wrote on X: "Netanyahu, the main actor in the genocide in Gaza and a stain on the history of humanity, is impolitely daring our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The day will come when Netanyahu will be held accountable as a war criminal before all humanity. Murderers who kill people of all ages will be punished. Without a doubt, we will continue to stand against the oppressor and support the oppressed." Turkey will continue to be the voice of humanity and will emphasize with the strongest voice that a more just world can exist.”

Also, Murat Kurum, the Minister of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change of Turkey, wrote: “Today, the question of who is the terrorist regime? There is a universal answer, which is 'occupying Israel'. History will record you as a criminal and a genocidal murderer who bombed hospitals, schools, mosques, churches, and killed babies. Under the leadership of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey will be the hope of the world, the homeland of the oppressed, and the homeland of peace.

On the other hand, Vedat Işıkhan, the Minister of Labor and Social Security of Turkey, said in a speech: “Despite the baseness of Netanyahu and his gang in the region, Turkey will continue its efforts to establish peace. The murderous Israeli government cannot hide the merciless massacre of innocent children, women, and civilians, and will be punished sooner or later. Netanyahu’s brazen statements cannot change the facts. Under Erdogan's leadership, we will always stand with the right and against the oppressor.

But this was not the end of the story, and Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi also wrote in a note: Netanyahu's baseless accusations against Recep Tayyip Erdogan as responsible for the massacre of innocent civilians in Gaza are a clear sign of his political despair and exhaustion. A person who has international legal cases against him and is being prosecuted for crimes against humanity has no legitimacy to speak in the name of truth, justice, and humanity. The facts are clear: we are facing a mindset that is leading the region towards instability, feeding on conflict, and considering any crime permissible to preserve its political future.

On the other hand, Akif Çağatay Kılıç, Advisor to the President on Foreign Policy and Security, wrote on X: Netanyahu is a war criminal who uses war, destruction, and the blood of innocents as a tool to prolong his political life. His baseless and unrealistic accusations against our country and Recep Tayyip Erdogan indicate their psychosis. Just as hearing someone speak in our favor from those who consider oppression to be their right and legitimate, it hurts our hope. The mentality that targets children, women, and civilians in Gaza and sets the region on fire has no words to say.

Ömer Çelik, Deputy Chairman of the Justice and Development Party and spokesperson for the party, said in response to Netanyahu's statements: "Today the world is divided into two groups. On one side is the Coalition for Humanity. On the other side is the killing network led by Israel. The first person in the killing network is Netanyahu. The first person of the Coalition for Humanity is also our President. Our President is a leader who fights this killing network with the clearest messages. He never uses ambiguous or cryptic sentences. Our President is stating in the clearest terms that he is responsible for these crimes against humanity and this Israeli genocide, and that Netanyahu and his network must be tried and held accountable in a humane court. The fact that Netanyahu is constantly targeting our President is a badge of honor for our President.

Çelik also said that Netanyahu tried to sabotage the peace talks in Pakistan by attacking President Erdoğan. While Israel is carrying out these attacks, it is trying to make the Kurds its political legionnaires. Apart from the statements of one or two terrorist organizations, our Kurdish brothers in Iraq and Iran behaved very wisely and did not side with Zionism in any way. They did not enter the evil equation of this genocidal network.

Efkan Ala, Deputy Chairman of the Justice and Development Party, wrote: Netanyahu's statements about Turkey and our President are delusions to hide his genocidal and murderous policies and his crimes against humanity. Israel's policies under Netanyahu's management are leading the region towards a cycle of permanent instability. Turkey, under the leadership of President Erdogan, is pursuing a multifaceted and principled diplomacy to establish regional peace. It seems that Turkey's effective diplomatic power, which prioritizes peace and stability in its region, has upset Netanyahu.

In separate statements, Ferhat Orek and other AKP officials condemned Netanyahu's statements, emphasizing that Turkey under Erdogan's leadership will continue to stand with the oppressed and oppose the oppressors, and that criminals will be held accountable for their actions.

Finally, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Minister of Culture and Tourism, also said: "The baseless statements of a criminal state whose history against international law is clear are unacceptable."