Netanyahu Accuses Erdogan of Illegal Occupation of Northern Cyprus at UN

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, delivering a scathing attack on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Netanyahu accused Erdogan of illegally occupying northern Cyprus, an EU member state, and of regularly transgressing against Greece, a NATO ally.

The Israeli leader labeled Erdogan a "tyrant" who hosts Hamas leaders, jails journalists and opposition figures, and denies the Armenian genocide. He claimed Erdogan holds the world record for imprisoning journalists and warned that the Turkish president now seeks to take over Syria.

“He illegally occupies northern Cyprus, an EU member, and he regularly transgresses against Greece, a NATO member.”

Netanyahu also focused heavily on Iran, stating that Israel had destroyed Tehran's nuclear facilities, calling it one of the easiest decisions of his premiership. He asserted that many countries whose delegates walked out privately thank Israel for the strikes.

Regarding the October 7, 2023 attacks, Netanyahu described them as the worst slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust. He vowed that Israel would not collapse but would continue to fight across multiple fronts against Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iranian-backed militias.