Erdogan Labels Israel a 'Terror State', Calls for War Crimes Trial

Ahead of meeting with German Chancellor, Turkish President intensifies criticism of Israel's Gaza assault, defends Hamas as a political party.

Erdogan has called Israel a 'terror state', stepping up his condemnation of the Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip.
He called for Israeli leaders to be tried for war crimes at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
Erdogan repeated his view that Hamas is not a 'terrorist organisation' but a political party that won the last Palestinian legislative elections held in 2006.
Turkey this month recalled its ambassador to Israel and broke off official contacts with Netanyahu, suspending recent attempts by the two countries to repair their rocky relations.
Erdogan made his comments two days before a planned meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who has been forced to defend his decision to receive the Turkish leader.