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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday blasted Germany over what he called Berlin’s “ignorance” toward Israel’s genocide, deliberate starvation and attacks in Gaza, demanding: “Germany, dont you see this?”
Erdogan issued his remarks at a joint press conference in Ankara with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who arrived for his first official visit since taking office in May.
Erdogan condemned Israel's war on Gaza and urged Germany to join efforts to halt famine, massacres and systematic targeting of civilians.
“More than 60,000 children, women and elderly have been killed,” Erdogan said.
He added: “Hamas does not have bombs. Hamas does not have nuclear weapons. But all these weapons are in Israels possession and Israel, using these weapons, for example yesterday evening again bombarded Gaza with these bombs. Germany, dont you see this?"
Merz earlier framed Israels post-Oct. 7 campaign as “the right to self-defense” and voiced hope that the conflict ends under U.S. President Donald Trumps 20-point peace plan.
Erdogan responded sharply, insisting Hamas “has neither bombs nor nuclear weapons,” while accusing Israel of using both against civilians. He said Türkiye and Germany hold responsibility to push for humanitarian relief and peace.
“Just as we want Russia-Ukraine war to end, we also support an end to Israels war on Gaza,” Erdogan said. “Türkiye and Germany stand as two key countries that can join hands to achieve this.”
Erdogan said the Turkish Red Crescent has been unable to deliver food aid to Gaza and that the Red Cross there also remains under threat. “So far, we have sent over 100,000 tons of food aid, but it is not enough. Continued aid deliveries are essential.”
He accused Israel of weaponizing starvation and committing genocide: “We need to end the genocide and deliberate starvation in Gaza by involving Germanys Red Cross and our own Turkish Red Crescent.”
Erdogan also stressed support for a two-state solution and said he urged Merz to help prevent fresh atrocities: “It is our humanitarian duty.”
Israel has killed more than 68,500 people, mostly women and children, and injured over 170,600 others in Gaza since October 2023, according to local health authorities.
Turkish president hosted Merz for a closed-door dinner at the Presidential Complex following the press conference.
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