Erdogan: Netanyahu will be tried as a war criminal

(Patria) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan believes that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will eventually be tried as a war criminal for the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Erdogan accused Western countries supporting Israel of complicity in crimes.

Turkey, which has supported a two-state solution to the decades-old conflict, has strongly criticized Israel for its campaign in Gaza, launched in response to the brutal attack by the militant group Hamas on October 7.

More than 15,500 people have been killed in Israeli air and ground attacks, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.

Speaking at a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) committee in Istanbul, Erdogan said that Western countries supporting Israel are giving "unconditional support for killing babies" and are complicit in its crimes.

"Besides being a war criminal, Netanyahu, who is currently the butcher of Gaza, will be tried as the butcher of Gaza, just as Milošević was tried," Erdogan said, referring to former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milošević, who was tried for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes before the Hague tribunal.

Erdogan also stated that those who try to ignore the deaths of all these innocent people by using Hamas as an excuse have nothing left to say to humanity, referring to Western powers whom he called "blind and deaf".

Unlike most of its Western allies and some Gulf states, NATO member Turkey does not view Hamas as a terrorist group and hosts some of its members.

Erdogan added that the so-called contact group of Muslim countries, formed last month by the OIC and the Arab League to engage with Western countries and others on Gaza, will continue its talks until the fighting in Gaza stops, but that more needs to be done.

Erdogan, who has long called for reform of the UN Security Council to be more inclusive, also said that the UN has failed its test in Gaza and called for urgent reform.

He reiterated that the five permanent members of the Security Council - the US, Russia, China, the UK, and France - do not represent the world, Hina reports.

"The members of the Security Council have sabotaged the sincere efforts of the Secretary-General (António) Guterres. None of us has to accept this system. It is impossible for such a structure to bring peace or hope to humanity," Erdogan said.