Turkey 'strongly' condemns Netanyahu's remarks against Erdoğan

Turkey's presidency strongly condemned the Israeli prime minister's remarks targeting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the country, saying Israel needs to give account for its violations of international law.

The Turkish president's spokesman Ibrahim Kalın said Sunday that "Israel, as a country which ignores international law, has occupied Palestinian territory for hundreds of years and systematically violates United Nations resolutions, must first account for what they have done."

During an official visit to Paris, Benjamin Netanyahu called Erdoğan "a leader who bombs Kurdish villagers and supports terrorists," without elaborating on his accusations.

The Israeli prime minister's comments came after Erdoğan said Israel was a terror state that kills children.

During his speech, Erdoğan held a picture of a 14-year-old Palestinian boy from Hebron, in the Occupied West Bank, being violently dragged away by Israeli soldiers.

Ties between the two countries were strained once again after U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.

Erdoğan harshly criticized the move, calling the holy city "a red line" for Muslims.