Turkey’s Erdogan says Netanyahu will face ‘war criminal’ trial after Israel-Hamas war

Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks at the COP28 U.N. Climate Summit on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (AP/Peter Dejong)

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan claimed on Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be tried as a "war criminal" after Israel's war against Hamas has concluded.

Erdogan does not recognize Hamas as a terrorist organization and has been deeply critical of Israel's campaign in Gaza. He compared Netanyahu to genocidal dictators of the past during a speech during a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul.

"Beyond being a war criminal, Netanyahu, who is the butcher of Gaza right now, will be tried as the butcher of Gaza, just as Milosevic was tried," Erdogan said, referencing a former Yugoslav president. "Those who try to skip over the deaths of all those innocent people by using the excuse of Hamas have nothing left to say to humanity."

Erdogan went on to criticize the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, Britain, China, France, Russia and the U.S. He has long argued that the security council needs reforms.

Erdogan's comments come as Israel turns its focus toward southern Gaza following the collapse of a cease-fire with Hamas on Friday.