Erdogan made these remarks at an awards ceremony in Ankara on Wednesday, sparking a heated exchange between the two leaders.

During his speech, Erdogan questioned the difference between Netanyahu and Hitler, noting that Israel's actions in Gaza were no less than what the infamous Nazi leader had done. He criticized the amount of support Netanyahu receives from the West and accused Israel of killing over 20,000 Gazans with this support.

Netanyahu swiftly responded, highlighting Turkey's own alleged rights abuses and accusing Erdogan of hypocrisy. He referred to Erdogan's treatment of the Kurdish population and his record of suppressing opposition voices, stating that the Turkish president was in no position to preach morality.

Erdogan's remarks come as Turkey intensifies its criticism of Israel, reversing a trend of growing ties between the two nations. The devastating toll on Gaza during Israel's assault has sparked outrage across the region, prompting Erdogan to condemn the Israeli government as a "terror state" with "unlimited" Western support.

It is worth noting that under Hitler's rule, Nazi Germany aimed to systematically eliminate European Jews, resulting in the deaths of approximately six million through various methods such as death camps, mass shootings, and forced labor.

Despite the exchange of criticisms, Turkey has maintained its commercial ties with Israel throughout the nearly three-month assault on Gaza. The campaign has been described as "genocidal," claiming the lives of over 21,000 people, injuring 55,000 others, and displacing nearly the entire population of 2.3 million.

The conflict between Hamas and Israel originally sparked on October 7 when Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,100 people and the capture of around 240 individuals. The assault has since escalated, leading to increased tensions and international concern.

As the war of words continues between the Turkish and Israeli leaders, it remains uncertain how their relationship will evolve in the aftermath of these inflammatory remarks. The international community continues to closely monitor the situation, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.