Concerns are mounting over increasingly strong anti-Israel rhetoric from Turkish leaders, with critics accusing some officials of crossing into antisemitism. The heightened verbal attacks coincide with Turkey's role as host of a significant NATO summit in Ankara.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated in a July 2 interview that Israel has "become a burden that humanity can no longer bear," and suggested it represents "humanity’s common problems." These remarks prompted Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar to call them "a clear call for genocide," warning that dehumanizing a people is often the first step toward such atrocities.
Sinan Ciddi, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, described Fidan's statement as "some of the vilest rhetoric to come out of any statesman since the Holocaust." Ciddi noted that while anti-Israel sentiment in Turkey has been building since at least 2008, it intensified significantly after October 7.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has previously condemned antisemitism, stating in March that it is "a crime against humanity, an evil that cannot be considered reasonable or legitimate." However, other Turkish officials have continued to issue strong statements. In May 2021, Erdoğan referred to Israelis as "murderers" and accused them of being "only satisfied by sucking their [victims’] blood," comments that the U.S. State Department at the time called "reprehensible."
In May 2025, Erdoğan again employed similar language, characterizing Israel as "a terror state that feeds on the blood, lives and tears of the innocent." In June, Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi reportedly said the world would "witness the liberation of Jerusalem."
Public sentiment in Turkey also reflects strong anti-Israel views. A Pew Research poll from June indicated that 91 percent of the Turkish population held "very unfavorable" views of Israel.
When asked about potential responses to statements from Turkish leadership, a State Department spokesperson stated that "Türkiye is a longstanding and valued NATO Ally and we continue to engage on all aspects of our important and multi-faceted relationship." Experts suggest that channels exist for the U.S. to address these remarks, ranging from direct presidential engagement to State Department advisories or placing Turkey on a watchlist.
As Turkey hosts the NATO summit, experts caution that the country may attempt to downplay such controversies and promote its image as a key ally. Ciddi warned, "We cannot safeguard our allies’ democratic norms, rights and practices if we don’t hold member states like Turkey accountable for the threats that it presents."