Credited from: REUTERS
During a joint press conference in Ankara, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan harshly criticized Germany's silence regarding Israel's actions in Gaza, which he refers to as "genocide." He appealed for Germany to join efforts to halt the humanitarian crisis, stating that "Hamas does not have bombs (or) nuclear arms but Israel has all of these and uses these weapons to hit Gaza" according to aa, aljazeera, and reuters.
Erdogan urged that Germany's Red Cross and Turkey's Red Crescent must be involved to end the "genocide" and famine in Gaza. He highlighted the ongoing violence, criticizing Israel's use of lethal force, which he claims is designed to maintain a state of suppression over Gaza. Reports indicate that the assault has led to severe humanitarian consequences, with over 68,500 casualties among Gazans since the escalation began in October 2023 according to aljazeera and reuters.
The discussions also revealed tensions between NATO allies, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz affirming Germany's long-standing support for Israel while expressing concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Merz maintained that Israel was exercising its right to self-defense but acknowledged his government's recent suspension of military exports to Israel due to the deteriorating conditions as noted by aa and reuters.
Erdogan called for cooperation between Turkey and Germany to create pathways for aid delivery to Gaza, stressing their significant roles in resolving the crisis. He expressed hope that these nations could work together for humanitarian solutions, echoing similar sentiments made during the press conference according to aljazeera and reuters.