Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday Israel was a "terror state" committing war crimes and violating international law in Gaza, while repeating his view that Hamas was not a terrorist organization.
Speaking two days before a planned visit to Germany to meet Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Erdogan said Israel's military campaign against Palestinian terrorist group Hamas included "the most treacherous attacks in human history" with "unlimited" support from the West.
Speaking to lawmakers in parliament, Erdogan also called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to announce whether Israel had nuclear bombs or not, and added that the Israeli premier was a "goner" from his post.
He said Hamas was a political party that had been elected by Palestinians.
Not the first time
Erdogan's comments are echoes of previous similar statements he made since the October 7 massacre. He has repeatedly called Israel an "occupier", insisting that the Jewish State had been under attack by Palestinian "freedom fighters."
In early November, Turkey had recalled its ambassador to Israel, Sakir Ozkan Torunlar, for "consultations" due to the Israeli operation in Gaza.
Hamas officials have reportedly found solace in Turkey, among other Middle East countries, with top political and diplomatic officials of the terrorist organization living and operating outside of the Gaza Strip, according to the Military Intelligence Directorate.