Erdogan Vows Accountability for Israel Over Genocide of Palestinians in Gaza

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared Sunday that Türkiye will demand full accountability from Israel over its ongoing military campaign in Gaza.

Addressing the conflict, the Turkish leader said the genocidal actions of Israel will not be neglected.

Speaking at an AK Party conference, Erdogan accused Israeli forces of deliberately targeting civilians, including infants and children, across parks, schools, hospitals, and coastal areas.

He cited the specific case of Hind Rajab, a child killed while trapped in a vehicle alongside deceased relatives as she awaited an ambulance.

“They deliberately killed a baby being nursed by its mother. They deliberately killed innocent children in parks, schools, hospitals, and on shores,” Erdogan said.

Demanding Accountability

The Turkish president stressed that the military attacks in Gaza are continuing without pause.

He repeatedly emphasized that an account of the genocide will be demanded from Israel. He stated that his administrative cadre would lead the effort to ensure accountability.

"Before they could even know the world, before they could understand what was happening, they martyred thousands of babies," Erdogan said.

“A genocide took place there in Gaza.”

Regional Appeal

Framing Türkiye as a central beacon for the broader region, Erdogan addressed his party as the primary source of hope for many from Gaza to Mogadishu.

“You are Gaza's sole hope. You are the hope of Damascus, which is rising to its feet. You are the hope of Aleppo, reborn from its ashes,” he said.

“Mogadishu, Khartoum, Beirut, Tripoli of Sham, Tripoli of the West — you are their hope,” Erdogan added.

“Do not forget: Nicosia is watching you. Baku is watching you. Sarajevo, Skopje, Prizren, Baghdad, Basra are watching you.”

Netanyahu Invokes Washington Over Erdogan

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to Erdoğan's remarks during a cabinet session, saying Israel takes the Turkish president's rhetoric "very seriously" and intends to raise it with Washington.

"Hardly a day goes by without Erdogan calling for the destruction of the State of Israel," Netanyahu told fellow cabinet members.

"We take those words very seriously, because if there is one thing we have learned from the history of our people, it is that when someone says they intend to destroy you, you should take them seriously."

Netanyahu added, "We will also draw the attention of our American friends to these remarks. We are not ignoring them."

The response signaled that the escalating verbal confrontation between Ankara and Tel Aviv is now being elevated to the level of U.S.-Israel diplomatic coordination.