Erdogan calls Israel's Gaza actions 'genocide'

President Erdogan on Saturday called Israel's actions in Gaza and Lebanon "genocide" at the MÜSİAD EXPO closing and said perpetrators belong in courtrooms, not at international podiums. Reaction pending.

MÜSİAD EXPO remarks

Speaking at the closing session of the MÜSİAD EXPO, President Erdogan used sharp language condemning the conduct he described and urged legal accountability for those he called war criminals. He framed the remarks as a matter of justice rather than diplomacy, addressing an audience of business leaders and officials.

> "Siyonist zihniyetin maskesini indirmekte kararlıyız. Savaş suçlularının yeri BM kürsüsü değil mahkeme salonlarıdır"

President Erdogan said this to attendees at the expo's final session. The comment explicitly linked the rhetoric to legal action rather than international stage appearances.

The statement risks raising diplomatic tensions between Ankara and Tel Aviv and could complicate regional mediation efforts; there is no evidence of an immediate market reaction. Turkish officials have in other settings emphasized legal and political pressure as tools of foreign policy, making this a reiteration of a harder rhetorical stance.

Watch for any formal diplomatic steps or additional statements from Ankara or Tel Aviv within 48 hours, which would be the clearest signal of whether the remarks translate into policy or reciprocal measures.