Ankara: Trkiye on Saturday strongly criticized a statement by the Israeli Foreign Ministry targeting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, labeling it as filled with 'lies and slanders' that mirror the attitudes of those within the Israeli government.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a response condemning the remarks, specifically calling out Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his administration. The statement accused Netanyahu and his 'criminal network' of bringing 'historic shame' to the Israeli people through actions described as genocide in Gaza and unprecedented expansionism in the Middle East, which has been a source of regional and global instability.

The Turkish statement further emphasized that the legal and political protections that Netanyahu and his network have enjoyed are diminishing. It criticized Israeli institutions for operating in a manner akin to 'Goebbels' propaganda machine,' asserting that the international community no longer believes the government's narratives.

The statement highlighted Trkiye's commitment under President Erdogan's leadership to maintain an unwavering stance against the alleged crimes during the Netanyahu era, vowing to continue advocating for truth and justice.

Trkiye's Head of Communications, Burhanettin Duran, also weighed in via the US social media platform X, claiming that Israel's statement exemplified a mindset reliant on slander and propaganda instead of addressing the reality. Duran accused Israel of obscuring its aggressive actions and alleged war crimes by hiding behind accusations of 'antisemitism,' and reiterated Trkiye's opposition to Israel's occupation and violations of international law. He affirmed that Erdogan would persist in supporting the Palestinian cause and promoting stability in the region.