Israel responded sharply to Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan's remarks about Israel. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar described Fidan's characterization of Israel as 'a burden humanity can no longer bear' as 'a clear call for genocide.'
In an interview with CNN Türk on July 2, Hakan Fidan said Israel had become 'the representative of humanity's common problems' and called on other countries to pressure the Jewish state. In a written statement, Gideon Sa'ar said, 'The Jewish people know very well what happens when such words go unanswered. The first step on the path to genocide is dehumanization.'
Sa'ar also asked, 'Speaking of a people as a 'problem for humanity' is a phrase familiar from nearly 100 years ago. What do you do with a 'burden you can no longer bear'?'
Sinan Ciddi, director of the Turkey program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), described Fidan's statement as 'one of the most disgusting statements from a statesman since the Holocaust.' Ciddi noted that anti-Israel rhetoric in Turkey began in 2008 and accelerated dramatically after October 7.
Although President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan declared in March that he condemned antisemitism, he and other ministers continued their harsh rhetoric against Israel. In May 2021, Erdoğan called Israelis 'murderers,' and in May 2025, he accused Israel of being a 'terror state.'
According to a Pew Research Center survey in June, 91 percent of the public in Turkey views Israel 'very unfavorably.'
A U.S. State Department spokesperson said Turkey is a valued NATO ally and that the relationship continues to be managed across all dimensions. Sinan Ciddi said the U.S. has many channels to warn Turkey over such rhetoric.
As the NATO summit in Ankara concluded, Ciddi warned that Turkey would try to present itself as a leading ally and that member states must hold countries like Turkey accountable for their threats.
Turkey's Embassy in Washington did not respond to Fox News' request for comment.
