Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was on a brief and tense visit to Germany amid deep differences between the two NATO allies over the war in Gaza.
Erdogan has called Israel a “terror state” and pointed to its Western allies, including Germany, for supporting the military’s “massacres” in Gaza.
On Friday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized Israel’s right to self-defense during a joint news conference with Erdogan.
Scholz stated, “Our solidarity with Israel is non-negotiable.”
Erdogan asserted Germany’s ability to express its views freely, stating, “We don’t owe anything to Israel,” alluding to Germany’s historical responsibilities in the Holocaust and its influence on the Israel-Germany relationship. He added, “If we were in debt, we could not speak so openly. But those who are indebted cannot express themselves freely.”
In addition, Erdogan criticized Israel for its continuous air and ground offensive in Gaza, condemning attacks on children and hospitals as incompatible with the principles of the Jewish holy book.
Erdogan expressed, “Shooting hospitals or killing children does not exist in the Torah; you can’t do it,” addressing reporters. Turkish President Recep
Ismail Thawabta, the director general of the government media office in Gaza, reported on Friday that the total number of Palestinians killed since the conflict began on October 7 has surpassed 12,000, including 5,000 children.