Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sharply criticized Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday, following the latter’s recent statements regarding the US–Iran ceasefire, as the Turkish presidency referred to attacks in Lebanon as stemming from the “desperation” of a “criminal for whom arrest warrants are pending.”

“Israel, under my leadership, will continue to fight against the Iranian terrorist regime and its allies, unlike Erdoğan who helps them and slaughters his Kurdish citizens,” Netanyahu said angrily last night via X.

Hours after the announcement of the ceasefire between Washington and Tehran, Erdogan had warned on Wednesday against potential “provocations” and “sabotage” that could undermine it, without giving further details.

He also urged, during a phone call with his US counterpart Donald Trump, that the two-week truce be used so that the parties “reach a lasting peace agreement” and ensure that “this process is not undermined under any circumstances.”

The Turkish presidency responded to Netanyahu’s verbal attack via X.

“Netanyahu, who is committing genocide in Gaza and attacking seven countries in the region, has the audacity in his desperation to target our esteemed president,” said Burhanettin Duran.

“This ‘criminal,’ against whom arrest warrants are pending, is dragging the region into chaos and conflict as part of his strategy for political survival,” he added.

Escalating rhetoric and legal tensions

The intensifying war of words between Israeli and Turkish officials comes amid an announcement by the Istanbul prosecutor’s office that it is preparing to bring charges against 35 individuals, including Netanyahu, his Defense Minister Israel Katz, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, over last summer’s interception of the “Freedom Flotilla,” which unsuccessfully attempted to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.

The indictment, largely symbolic, calls for thousands of years in prison for charges including “genocide,” “deprivation of liberty,” and “torture,” according to Turkey’s state news agency Anadolu.

Turkey’s vice president said Netanyahu’s remarks only reflect his “discomfort” and “guilt,” while Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunc described them as “irrational” and “baseless.”

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz also launched a verbal attack on Erdogan via X.

Erdogan, who proved to be a “paper tiger” by “failing to respond to missile launches from Iran targeting Turkish territory,” is resorting to “antisemitism” and “sham trials in Turkey against Israel’s political and military leadership,” he claimed.

“What utter absurdity. A member of the Muslim Brotherhood, who slaughtered Kurds, accuses Israel—which is defending itself against his allies in Hamas—of genocide,” the minister continued, adding sarcastically that Erdogan “would do better to remain silent.”