ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkey and Israel’s foreign ministries on Sunday exchanged accusations with regional tensions rising amid mass protests in Turkey and Israel’s renewed attacks on the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Sunday accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of antisemitism, calling him “dangerous both for the region and for his own people.”
Turkey’s foreign ministry rejected Saar’s remarks, calling them “outrageous” and “disrespectful and baseless allegations” aimed at “covering up the crimes committed by [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu and his associates.”
Israel's foreign ministry responded, stating that “everyone sees what he [Erdogan] does to his own people (and to Pikachu). And everyone hears what he wants to do to the Jewish state.”
A demonstrator dressed as Pikachu, the beloved character from the Japanese anime Pokemon, on Thursday joined thousands of protesters in Istanbul outraged over the arrest and sacking of popular mayor Ekrem Imamoglu – Erdogan’s biggest political rival and his main opponent in the upcoming 2028 presidential race.
The protests erupted after Imamoglu, 53, was removed from office last Sunday following a court ruling on corruption charges. His arrest has triggered massive nationwide unrest.
Turkish police launched a crackdown on demonstrators, with Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya warning on Thursday that there would be “no concessions” for “those who attempt to terrorize the streets, our national and spiritual values, and our policemen” as security forces arrested thousands.
Meanwhile, Israel's military operations in Gaza have caused significant casualties and mass displacement. The Gaza health ministry has reported over 50,000 deaths since the conflict began in October 2023. Following the collapse of a two-month ceasefire earlier in March, another 700 people have died this month.
Turkey severed diplomatic ties with Israel in November after Erdogan at the time cited Israel’s reluctance to end the war in Gaza.
