Turkey would do everything for International Criminal Court to Punish Israel

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has strongly asserted that his country will actively pursue legal action against Israel for what he termed as "genocide" in the Gaza Strip. Erdogan, speaking after the COP28 summit in Dubai, expressed his commitment to ensuring that the International Criminal Court (ICC) holds Israel accountable for its actions.

"We will do our best to get the International Criminal Court to punish [Israel] for this genocide. This is a black mark not only on [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu government but also on those countries that unconditionally support it. And they too will pay for their silence for years to come. The world will not forget this indifference," Erdogan stated, according to the Anadolu news agency.

Erdogan disclosed that around 3,000 lawyers, including Turkish legal professionals, have submitted petitions to the ICC regarding Israel actions in Gaza. "About three thousand lawyers have submitted the necessary applications to the ICC in The Hague. These people will follow the trial in The Hague. We expect that these butchers of Gaza, the authors of genocide, especially [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu, who were caught red-handed, will receive the necessary punishment," he emphasized.

The Turkish President vowed to intensify efforts to ensure Israel faces consequences for its actions, branding Israel as a "terrorist state" in a recent speech. "We will not forget this genocide, and we will not let others forget it. Sooner or later, Israel will certainly pay for it. We will continue our efforts in the international arena to stop the Israeli attacks in Gaza and ensure a permanent ceasefire," Erdogan asserted.

In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu countered Erdogan accusations, accusing him of supporting the "terror state of Hamas." Netanyahu, addressing the situation on a social media platform, rejected Erdogan criticism and highlighted Turkey alleged support for Hamas. The exchange between the leaders reflects the heightened tensions and divergent perspectives on the situation in the Gaza Strip.