Echoing Hamas, Erdogan reportedly calls for Israel’s destruction amid push to rekindle ties with Trump

PoliceofficersseenpeppersprayingprotestersaspeoplegatheredinsupportofIstanbulMayorEkremImamogluneartheIstanbulMetropolitanMunicipalitybuilding,inIstanbul,Turkey,March23,2025.(Credit:Reuters) TurkishPresidentRecepTayyipErdoğanreportedlycalledforthedestructionofIsraelduringEidal-FitrprayersattheÇamlıcaMosqueinIstanbulonSunday. TheJerusalemPostreportedthatErdoğansaid“MayAllah,forthesakeofhisname‘Al-Qahhar,’destroyanddevastateZionistIsrael.”HiscallfortheannihilationoftheJewishstatehasdrawnfiercecondemnation,particularlyfromIsraeliofficials. Inresponsetohisremarks,IsraeliForeignMinister GideonSa’ar statedonX,“ThedictatorErdoganrevealedhisantisemiticface,”addingthat“Erdoganisdangeroustotheregion,aswellastohisownpeople,ashasbeenproveninrecentdays,”Sa’arreferredtothewidespreadprotestsinTurkeyandadded,“Let’shopeNATOmembersunderstandho