Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sharply criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday following the deadly airstrike on a Hamas negotiating team in Qatar, comparing him to Adolf Hitler.

“Ideologically, Netanyahu is like a relative of Hitler,” Erdogan said while returning from Doha, where he attended an emergency Arab-Islamic summit. “Just as Hitler could not foresee the defeat that awaited him, Netanyahu will face the same ultimate fate.”

Attack on negotiators ‘blatant challenge to international law’

Erdogan condemned the strike on Hamas officials in Doha, describing it as “a blatant challenge to international order and international law.” He accused "Israel’s" leadership of turning its “radical mindset into nothing more than a murderous network built on fascist ideology.”

The strike came as Qatar, Egypt, and the US have been mediating talks to halt the war on Gaza, where nearly 65,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023.

UN 'two-state resolution' marks diplomatic shift

Erdogan also welcomed the UN General Assembly’s adoption of the New York Declaration on a "two-state solution", approved by 142 countries. He said the move demonstrates that Turkey’s long-standing position is now shared by the global majority.

He added that recent recognition of Palestine by several Western nations increases pressure on "Israel" and pledges to raise the matter again at the upcoming UN General Assembly.

“The front of humanity will gain broader support,” Erdogan said, expressing hope that momentum for Palestinian statehood will continue to grow.

Turkey reaffirms role in Syria

Turning to regional policy, Erdogan said integrating the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into state institutions under Damascus is crucial for preserving Syria’s territorial integrity.

Turkey, he stressed, “cannot abandon Syria” amid a complex process shaped by international diplomacy and local dynamics.

Relations with Libya, maritime agreement

Erdogan also highlighted Turkey's ongoing military intervention in Libya, emphasizing Ankara’s commitment to safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and unity. He noted that Turkey has supported the Tripoli government while also opening channels with eastern Libya.

He described Libya’s approval of the 2019 Turkey-Tripoli maritime jurisdiction agreement as a “significant gain under international law.” The deal, expanded in 2022, allows for joint energy exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean and cooperation on oil and gas projects.