Turkey has strongly condemned recent remarks by Israel’s Foreign Ministry accusing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of spreading a “false blood libel.” In a statement, Ankara said the allegations against Erdogan reflected what it described as the cowardly and corrupt mentality of criminals acting for the Israeli government, particularly Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry had alleged that Erdogan had destroyed democracy in Turkey, supported Hamas and carried out aggression in neighboring countries. In a post on X, the ministry said Erdogan, like history’s most abhorrent antisemites, was spreading a false blood libel to divert attention from his own actions.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said Ankara has maintained an honest position against crimes committed by Israel. It also said Israeli institutions acting like Goebbels’ propaganda machine were no longer sufficient and that the international community no longer believed the Netanyahu government’s “lies.” Turkey said it would continue to defend and speak for the truth.