The Turkish presidency described Israel's recognition of the events of 1915 during the Ottoman Empire as a "genocide" against Armenians as a "desperate attempt" to cover up its crimes in Palestine and the region.
The head of the Turkish Presidency's Communication Department, Burhanuddin Duran, said in a post on the Turkish platform "In Social" on Monday, June 29: "It is extremely hypocritical that the Israeli administration, which committed the most heinous massacre of the 21st century by killing tens of thousands of innocent civilians, including children, women and the elderly, should dare to use historical events as a political weapon."
"Israel's recognition of the events of 1915 as genocide is a desperate attempt to cover up the blood of innocent Palestinians that they have on their hands, the state terrorism they are practicing in the Middle East, and the crimes against humanity they commit unchecked," he added.
"The greatest paradox in human history is that a party that continues to bomb hospitals, schools, places of worship and refugee camps, and tramples on international law," he said.
He stressed that those on trial before the International Court of Justice for genocide have "no right to give Turkey history lessons or to claim to protect the human conscience."
Turkish Foreign Ministry Attacks Israel's Decision to Recognize Armenian Genocide
The Turkish Foreign Ministry also strongly condemned the Israeli government's decision to recognize what it calls the "Armenian Genocide" in 1915, considering the move as nothing but a political maneuver aimed at diverting attention from international accusations against Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.
The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that this Israeli position reflects the legal and political pressures that Netanyahu is facing, especially after the arrest warrants issued against him by the International Criminal Court.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry stressed that Israel is falsifying historical facts and that those who "bomb schools and hospitals and violate international laws" have no moral right to offer lessons in history or claim to defend human values.
Turkey's position reflects a new diplomatic escalation between Ankara and Tel Aviv, at a time when international pressure on Israel is increasing, while the latter is trying to employ sensitive historical files in its current political battles.
Sa'ar proposes recognition of the "1915 genocide"
Turkey's response came as a direct escalation after the Israeli government unanimously approved Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar's proposal to recognize the events of 1915 as "genocide," a move that awaits Knesset approval before it becomes effective.
In order for the resolution to become official effective, it will now enter a legislative process within the Knesset, starting with putting the formula on the agenda, then going through the three readings and the discussions and amendments that will be interspersed with them within the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee, before the final vote, which requires a majority of those present.
If ratified, Ankara expects relations to move towards a complete diplomatic rupture, with the possibility of expanding trade restrictions that have already begun, in addition to strengthening Turkish coordination in international forums to support the prosecution files against Israeli leaders.
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