Politics · Malaysia Bureau
Turkey dismisses Netanyahu's UN accusations as groundless
Ankara has rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's assertion that it harbours Hamas leadership, after he made the accusation during a heated address to the United Nations. The Turkish government characterised the claims as baseless.
LSN Malaysia ·
Turkey has pushed back firmly against allegations levelled by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the United Nations, where he accused Ankara of providing safe harbour to militant leaders from Hamas.
Netanyahu, speaking during a fiery UN address, also branded Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a "tyrant" as part of his broader attack on the country's role in regional affairs. The Israeli leader's remarks marked an escalation in tensions between the two nations.
Turkish officials have since dismissed Netanyahu's claims as unfounded, rejecting the characterisation of their country as a haven for Hamas operatives. The rebuke underscores deepening rifts between Ankara and Jerusalem over Middle East policy and humanitarian concerns.
The exchange reflects broader geopolitical divisions in the region, with Turkey and Israel maintaining sharply divergent positions on Palestinian issues and the conduct of Israeli military operations. Ankara has been among the more vocal critics of Israeli actions in Gaza, while also positioning itself as a potential mediator in regional disputes.
The public confrontation at the UN highlights the deteriorating diplomatic relationship between the two countries, which once maintained closer security and economic ties.