ANKARA/CAIRO: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticised Germany over what he said was its ignorance of Israel’s “genocide” and attacks in Gaza, at a joint news conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday.

The open public friction between Nato allies emerged on Merz’s first visit to Turkiye since taking office.

Merz said his government had stood by Israel since the Oct 7, 2023 raid by Hamas and that he believes Israel was exercising its right to self-defence.

“It would have taken only one decision to avoid countless unnecessary casualties. Hamas should have released the hostages earlier and laid down its arms,” he said, adding he hoped the conflict was coming to an end with the US-brokered ceasefire deal.

Erdogan, among the most vocal critics of Israel’s assault on Gaza and a key player in the ceasefire talks, said he could not agree with Merz. “Hamas does not have bombs (or) nuclear arms but Israel has all of these and uses these weapons to hit Gaza, for example with those bombs again last night ,” Erdogan said.

Hamas hands over bodies of two Israeli prisoners

“Do you, as Germany, not see these? Do you, as Germany, not follow these? Besides hitting Gaza, (Israel) has always sought to suppress it through famine and genocide,” he said.

A UN inquiry determined that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, arguing that its killings, siege and destruction were carried out with the intent to destroy Palestinian life in the enclave. Multiple Israeli and international rights groups reached the same conclusion.

Merz has criticised Israeli actions in Gaza and this year Germany suspended military exports there, citing the deteriorating humanitarian situation. He has stopped short of backing accusations of genocide, however, arguing that criticism of Israel must not become a pretext for antisemitism.

Erdogan said he still believed Germany and Turkiye could collaborate to end famine. He also pointed to the potential for Nato allies to focus on joint projects in the defence industry, and reiterated Ankara’s wish to join the European Union.

Merz said he saw Turkiye as a close partner to the EU, that he wanted to develop bilateral economic relations, including in the transport sector and migration.

Bodies handed over

Hamas handed over two bodies it said were of deceased Israeli prisoners on Thursday, a day after the tenuous Gaza ceasefire was shaken by a series of strikes across the enclave. The office of Israeli prime minister said that the two bodies had been received via the Red Cross in Gaza and will be transported into Israel for identification.

Published in Dawn, October 31st, 2025