"There is no other explanation for what is happening in Gaza. It is a complete genocide, and the perpetrator of this genocide is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu," Erdogan said in an interview with Fox News on the sidelines of his participation in the UN General Assembly meetings.
He continued, "Netanyahu committed a brutal massacre that claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people in this genocide, and we in Turkey completely oppose this genocide." He noted that there are more than 125,000 wounded in Gaza, a large number of whom have been transferred to Türkiye for treatment.
In response to a question about the possibility of Hamas releasing prisoners, Erdogan said, "It is wrong to blame Hamas alone for this situation. How can we ignore Netanyahu's actions?" He explained that he had presented numerous images in his speeches showing the deterioration of the situation in Gaza as a result of the Israeli attacks.
He added, "Can it be said that Hamas is more powerful than Israel in terms of weapons? This is impossible. Israel uses its weapons relentlessly against people ranging in age from 7 to 70, regardless of whether they are women, children, or the elderly."
In response to a question about ending the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, President Erdoğan said: "As you remember, Mr. Trump made a statement saying, 'I will end the war between Russia and Ukraine.' Is it over? It's ongoing. Likewise, he said, 'I will end the Gaza war.' Is it over? No."
In response to another question, Erdogan affirmed that he does not view Hamas as a terrorist organization, adding, "On the contrary, I see it as a resistance movement."
Meanwhile, President Erdoğan answered a question about how Türkiye's participation in the F-35 fighter jet program would be raised during his upcoming meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House next Thursday.
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In this context, Erdogan noted that Türkiye was previously a partner and producer in the F-35 program, explaining that his country had paid $1.4 billion to purchase the aircraft but had never received them.
He explained that not delivering F-35 fighter jets to Turkey was inconsistent with the existing strategic partnership between Ankara and Washington, saying, "It was a wrong move."
Asked whether he expected to deliver F-35 fighter jets to Turkey after his meeting with Trump, Erdogan said, "We will reevaluate these issues and discuss with Trump the latest developments regarding the F-35 and F-16 fighter jets as well."
Regarding the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, Erdogan emphasized that Turkey has distinguished relations with both countries and has never been at odds with either. He emphasized that the war has inflicted heavy losses on both Russia and Ukraine, and expressed his belief that this conflict will not end anytime soon.
He pointed out that NATO could adopt a model similar to that implemented by Türkiye, by pursuing a balanced policy that achieves peace with both Russia and Ukraine.
Istanbul hosted several rounds of direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in July, May, and June 2025, resulting in agreements to release thousands of prisoners from both sides.
Since February 24, 2022, Russia has been launching a military attack on its neighbor, Ukraine, demanding that Kyiv abandon its membership in Western military entities as a condition for ending the offensive. Kyiv considers this to be "interference" in its affairs.
