Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered a strong rebuke of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit, likening him to Adolf Hitler and accusing him of endangering the Middle East through escalating military actions, including a recent strike on Iran.
Addressing foreign ministers from over 40 OIC member nations in Istanbul, Erdogan warned that Netanyahu’s aggressive policies were dragging the entire region toward chaos. “Just like Hitler, Netanyahu is pushing the region toward destruction,” he said. Erdogan emphasized that Muslim nations must unite, declaring that solidarity was now a necessity, not a choice.
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The emergency two-day summit in Istanbul was convened in response to Israel’s expanding military operations, which now include airstrikes in countries such as Yemen, Libya, Syria, and Iran. Erdogan condemned the attack on Iran and expressed unwavering support for the Iranian people.
During the summit, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi sat side by side, symbolizing growing unity among Muslim nations amid increasing regional divisions. Dar is expected to present Pakistan’s formal position, which includes condemning Israeli aggression in both Gaza and Iran, and reaffirming the country’s support for a two-state solution in Palestine.
The Secretary General of the OIC also addressed the summit, condemning Israel’s military actions and calling for international accountability. He emphasized the importance of upholding international law and asserted that every country has the right to defend itself — a statement that aligned with Iran’s defense of its retaliatory strikes.
Ahead of the summit, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Israel of intentionally derailing peace negotiations. He revealed that Israel launched an attack just two days before the scheduled diplomatic talks on June 15, arguing this proved Tel Aviv had no interest in dialogue or de-escalation.
