Türkiye has denounced Israel’s recognition of the 1915 events, calling the decision a political move aimed at covering up its crimes against Palestinians.
"The Israeli government, which has systematically persecuted the Palestinian people before the eyes of the entire world and is being tried at the International Court of Justice on charges of committing genocide against the people of Gaza, is seeking to cover up its own crimes through the political decision it has adopted regarding the events of 1915," said the Turkish Foreign Ministry in a statement on Sunday.
The ministry said the decision ignored legal and historical facts and reflected the pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his associates, who are subject to International Criminal Court arrest warrants in connection with crimes against Palestinians in Gaza.
Türkiye said it would continue working to end “Israel’s expansionist and destabilising policies in the region" while seeking accountability for the Netanyahu government over “crimes against civilians, particularly Palestinians".
Tragedy both sides suffered
Türkiye objects to the recognition of the incidents as so-called "genocide", describing them as a tragedy in which both sides suffered casualties.
Ankara has repeatedly proposed the creation of a joint commission of historians from Türkiye and Armenia, as well as international experts, to tackle the issue.
In 2014, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, then prime minister and now president, expressed condolences to the descendants of Armenians who lost their lives in the events of 1915.
Israel has killed nearly 73,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 173,000 in Gaza since October 2023. The genocide has devastated much of the territory’s civilian infrastructure, while the humanitarian situation remains severe.
On November 21, 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice over its war on the Palestinian enclave.
