Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on Monday, issued a stark warning against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amidst the escalating crisis in Gaza. Addressing a large rally in Ankara, Erdogan sharply criticized Netanyahu, labeling him a “barbarian” and calling for international intervention to stop him. “This barbarian, thug, and bloodthirsty individual named Netanyahu, who is dragging our region and the entire world into disaster, must be stopped,” Erdogan declared.
Nearly 36,400 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip while over 500 people have lost their lives in violence in the West Bank. In the latest development, the Israeli military on Monday launched more air strikes across Gaza to deadly effect as officials discussed the latest proposed deal to end hostilities and exchange prisoners, Al Jazeera reported.
Earlier, two far-right Israeli ministers threatened to resign and collapse the governing coalition if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to a Gaza ceasefire proposal from US President Joe Biden. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir are against any deal before Hamas is destroyed. Meanwhile, Opposition leader Yair Lapid has pledged to support Netanyahu if he backs the plan. As the conflict intensifies, Netanyahu has asserted that there would be no permanent truce until Hamas’s military and governing capabilities are destroyed and all hostages released.