Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz clashed over the conflict in Gaza throughout a joint press convention in Ankara on Thursday.
Whereas Merz reaffirmed Germany’s agency assist 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 drive on October 10. Israel mentioned on Wednesday it had “renewed” its enforcement of the ceasefire.
“They aren’t solely attacking Gaza, however have all the time been intent on subjugating Gaza by way of starvation and genocide, and that is nonetheless ongoing,” Erdoğan mentioned.
Erdoğan’s remarks got here in response to Merz, who instructed a Turkish journalist that Israel had turn out to be a refuge for thousands and thousands of Jews, together with many who survived the Holocaust. “That’s the reason Germany will all the time stand firmly by the aspect 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 conflict might have been prevented if Hamas had launched hostages earlier and laid down its arms.
“Then this conflict 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
