Israel’s Defense Minister strongly reacts against Turkish President’s ‘false lawsuits’

tel aviv: Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, on Sunday strongly criticized Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who reportedly announced “false trials” against Israel’s military and political leadership. Katz labeled Erdoğan a “paper tiger” and said Israel would continue to defend itself.

Katz posted on

He criticized Erdoğan, saying, “What an absurdity. A member of the Muslim Brotherhood, the man who massacred the Kurds, is accusing Israel of genocide while Israel is engaged in its own security efforts and fighting their partners in Hamas.”

Katz said Israel will continue to defend itself with full force and determination and it is time for Erdoğan to “sit down and be quiet.”

Turkey on Friday filed a case against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and 35 other Israeli officials over the October 2025 maritime siege of the “Sumud” Gaza flotilla and sought a prison sentence of 4,596 years, according to the “Jerusalem Post”. Istanbul’s chief prosecutor charged that the men took part in military operations against civilians in international waters and demanded a minimum sentence of 1,102 years.

Those charged include Defense Minister Israel Katz and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

“We will continue the fight against Iran’s terrorist regime and its proxies in Israel, while Erdoğan gives them shelter and massacres his own Kurdish citizens,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a post on Twitter.

Netanyahu earlier said in a video message that the campaign against Iran is “not over now,” and noted historic achievements, adding, “We have hurt them, and there is still much more to do.”

Following criticisms by Israeli officials, the Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a message on Twitter calling the allegations against Erdoğan baseless, reckless and false. “It is true that our President has been the victim of false and baseless accusations by Israeli authorities, who are uncomfortable with the facts that we have been expressing on every platform,” the ministry said. “Türkiye will continue to stand by the side of innocent civilians and step up its efforts to hold Netanyahu accountable for his crimes,” the ministry added.