Ankara rejects Israeli allegations, urges peaceful regional policy

Türkiye's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dismissed recent allegations made by Israeli officials as part of a coordinated disinformation campaign, accusing the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of attempting to divert international attention from the war in Gaza.

In a statement issued on July 7, the ministry said the claims against Ankara were baseless and deliberately timed to shift the regional agenda.

The ministry accused Israeli officials of systematically distorting criticism directed at their government.

"Netanyahu and his accomplices deliberately distort all criticism directed at them and seek to shift the agenda through a systematic propaganda campaign," the ministry said.

According to the statement, such efforts have become part of a broader strategy to undermine Türkiye's credibility on the international stage.

The Foreign Ministry further argued that the campaign has failed to persuade the international community or conceal what it described as the Netanyahu government's actions in Gaza and across the wider region.

The ministry said the disinformation efforts had failed to hide what it called "the Netanyahu government's genocide in Gaza," as well as its policies of occupation and annexation. Ankara has consistently accused Israel of committing war crimes in the Palestinian territory since October 2023, maintaining that Israeli military operations amount to systematic destruction that threatens regional security beyond Gaza.

Reaffirming Türkiye's regional policy, the ministry said Ankara remains committed to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity throughout the region.

"With this understanding, we once again call on Israel to pursue a constructive and peaceful policy," the ministry said. "As Türkiye, we will continue to speak the truth."

By Vafa Guliyeva