Gaza Genocide30 October, 20253 min read
Erdogan Accuses Germany of Ignoring Israel’s Genocide in Gaza During Merz Visit
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Erdogan accused Germany of ignoring Israel’s genocide and starvation tactics in Gaza. German Chancellor Merz reaffirmed Germany’s support for Israel during his visit to Turkey.
7 outlets told this the same way.
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Erdogan Criticizes Germany on Gaza
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan used German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s first official visit to Ankara to accuse Germany of ignoring what he called Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Erdogan cited figures from Gaza health authorities that more than 68,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 170,000 injured since October 2023, mostly women and children. At a joint press conference and a closed-door dinner, Erdogan condemned Israel’s war on Gaza and demanded that Berlin help stop famine and massacres.
“During German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's first official visit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sharply criticized Germany for what he called Berlin’s ‘ignorance’ of Israel’s actions in Gaza.”
Merz publicly supported Israel, describing its operations as self-defense following the October 7 Hamas attack. Meanwhile, West Asian media highlighted the high Palestinian death toll and Erdogan’s accusation of genocide.
Erdogan's Accusations and Humanitarian Appeal
Erdogan intensified his accusations by claiming that Israel is deliberately starving and systematically attacking civilians. He also asserted that Hamas does not have bombs, highlighting what he described as a significant military imbalance. Erdogan called on Germany to join Turkey in taking concrete humanitarian actions to end famine and massacres in Gaza.
West Asian media emphasized these claims as evidence of genocide. Meanwhile, local Western coverage focused on Erdogan’s emphasis on Israel’s superior weaponry compared to Hamas and his appeal for coordinated relief efforts.
Germany and Israel Conflict Views
Merz pushed back, anchoring Germany’s stance in support for Israel and rejecting the genocide label. Israel National News reports that Merz blames Hamas, urges the release of hostages to prevent casualties, and warns that criticism of Israel must not fuel antisemitism. It also notes Germany suspended military exports earlier this year while still backing Israel.
“Merz reaffirmed Germany’s support for Israel, blaming Hamas for the conflict and urging the release of hostages to prevent casualties.”
The Japan Times presents Merz’s position as Israel exercising its right to self-defense after October 7. These narratives stand in sharp contrast to Erdogan’s depiction of Israel as a 'terror state' and his insistence that Germany confront the genocidal scale of Israel’s killing of Palestinians in Gaza.
Conflicting Reports on Gaza Conflict
West Asian outlets situate Erdogan’s charges within casualty data and ongoing Israeli bombardments. Al Jazeera reports Israel resumed bombardments after an Israeli soldier was killed in Rafah, killing 104 Palestinians—mostly women and children—even as Israel claimed it was enforcing a US-brokered ceasefire that began on October 10. Al Jazeera adds that Donald Trump said the ceasefire remains intact.
Türkiye Today attributes more than 68,500 Palestinian deaths and 170,600 injuries to Gaza health authorities and stresses that most are women and children. Israel National News, by contrast, centers the October 7 attack by Hamas—1,139 killed and about 200 people captured—and emphasizes hostages and Hamas’s culpability. Israel National News also describes hopes for a ceasefire backed by the US and Turkey.
Media Perspectives on Ankara Exchange
Coverage varies on how the Ankara exchange is portrayed. The Japan Times highlights the public confrontation during Merz’s first visit and reiterates Germany’s support for Israel’s right to self-defense. Tovima emphasizes Erdogan’s accusation that Germany ignores Israel’s genocide, famine, and attacks, and calls for joint humanitarian efforts.
“The tension between the NATO allies surfaced during Merz’s first visit to Turkey since becoming chancellor.”
Israel National News focuses on Erdogan labeling Israel a 'terror state' and depicts Merz as refuting genocide claims while warning against antisemitism. West Asian reports stress the genocide and the extent of Palestinian deaths, suggesting Germany would be complicit if it fails to act against Israel’s killing of civilians.
