Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has declared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be personally responsible for the deaths in the besieged Gaza Strip.

“Netanyahu, who committed one of the greatest atrocities of the last century, has already gone down in history as the butcher of Gaza,” Mr Erdoğan told his ruling party members in parliament in Ankara.

Such a “stain” is not only on Mr Netanyahu but also on those who supported him “unconditionally,” the Turkish leader added.

Mr Erdoğan said the Israeli government’s statements do not indicate that a current truce will lead to a long-term ceasefire.

Mr Netanyahu on Tuesday reiterated his government’s goal is to destroy Hamas’ leadership and military capabilities as soon as the ceasefire ends.

More than 14,800 people have died in the Gaza Strip, and around 36,000 have been injured in Israeli bombardments, according to Hamas.

Another 7,000 are considered missing.

The numbers cannot be independently verified. However, the United Nations and other observers point out that the Gaza authorities’ figures have proven to be credible in the past.

Israel attacked Gaza following a rampage by Hamas militants and others, which killed more than 1,200 people on October 7 in Israeli communities near the border with the Gaza Strip.

Hamas also abducted around 240 hostages from Israel to the strip. 

(dpa/NAN)