Turkey calls Israel “terror state”
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that Israel is a “terror state” that committed war crimes and violated international law in Gaza. He also criticized Israeli leaders and their backers in the West.
Israel’s military campaign against Hamas included “the most treacherous attacks in human history” with “unlimited” support from the West, Erdogan said.
“I am now saying, with my heart at ease, that Israel is a terror state,” Erdogan said.
He repeated Turkey’s position that Hamas is not a terrorist organization but a political party that won past elections.
Ankara hosts members of Hamas and supports a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
For his part, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel, Eli Cohen, replied to Erdogan saying, “Those who host arch-terrorists and encourage terrorist organizations should not preach morality to the State of Israel.”
“Israel is a law-abiding state, which acts in accordance with international law,” Cohen added.