Israel labeled as a ‘terror state’ – Erdogan

PM Benjamin Netanyahu has been pressed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to disclose whether Israel possesses nuclear weapons.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “goner,” calling Israel a “terror state” that is carrying out “genocide” in Gaza. He also issued a challenge to Netanyahu, demanding to know if the nation had nuclear weapons, adding that the embattled prime leader would not benefit from having such an arsenal.

The president of Turkey made the comments on Wednesday while speaking at a parliamentary group meeting of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in Ankara. Erdogan attacked Netanyahu personally on multiple occasions, saying that the outcome of the Gaza conflict will not affect Netanyahu’s ability to hold his position.

During his press briefings, Netanyahu is accompanied by ministers on either side. He believes he will be saved by these ministers. “Netanyahu is doomed,” declared Erdogan.

Erdogan reiterated in his speech that he believed Israel was committing “genocide” in the Gaza battle. He emphasised that individuals who do not speak out about Israel’s perceived crimes against humanity in the Palestinian enclave are just as “complicit in those crimes as the perpetrators.”

Erdogan reiterated Ankara’s threat to file a complaint with the body, saying Türkiye will “work to bring this case to the International Court of Justice.” Government agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) can “inform the prosecutor’s office” of suspected crimes and request an inquiry, despite the fact that the nation cannot act directly because it never accepted the Rome Statute that founded the court, according to Turkish media reports.

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Additionally, Netanyahu was tasked by the president of Turkey with disclosing formally whether Israel possesses nuclear weapons.

Are you in possession of an atomic bomb? Although I don’t think Netanyahu can, I still challenge him to announce it. Erdogan remarked, “You can threaten people in any way you like, but Netanyahu’s time is running out,” seemingly alluding to the controversial comments made by Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu, who proposed destroying Gaza with nuclear weapons. The minister was suspended as a result of the harsh criticism the words received, both domestically and internationally.

Although Israel has never officially acknowledged or denied possessing nuclear weapons, it is generally accepted that it has done so since the late 1960s. Independent estimates place its stock at about ninety warheads.