Israel has strongly rejected Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s characterisation of Hamas as a “liberation group” protecting Palestinian land.
In a statement by Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Lior Haiat, Hamas was unequivocally labelled a “despicable terrorist organisation” responsible for the deliberate targeting of civilians, including babies, children, women and the elderly, and the use of human shields.
“Even the Turkish president’s attempt to defend the terrorist organisation and his inflammatory words will not change the horrors that the whole world has seen and the unequivocal fact: Hamas = ISIS,” the spokesman said.
Erdogan’s comments came during a speech at a parliamentary group meeting of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), where he also announced the cancellation of his planned visit to Israel, describing Israel’s military actions in Gaza as “inhumane”. He said that relations between the two nations were unlikely to improve in the current climate.
Italy’s deputy prime minister, Matteo Salvini, also wasted no time in condemning Erdogan’s remarks as ‘grave and disgusting’ and arguing that they did nothing to promote de-escalation. Salvini has asked the Italian foreign minister to lodge a formal protest against Erdogan’s remarks in Ankara.