Interior Minister Mustafa Çitçi on Monday slammed Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz’s comments saying Türkiye would continue to support the Palestinian cause and the status of Jerusalem.
Speaking at an event organized by the Turkish Youth Foundation (TÜGVA), Çiftci said: "We will never compromise on our stance. We will continue to carry the cause of Jerusalem's freedom in our hearts."
Minister Katz on Sunday attacked President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Çiftci over comments regarding Jerusalem, escalating an already tense war of words between Ankara and Tel Aviv.
In a statement shared on social media, Katz responded to previous remarks made by Çiftci, who recently expressed his wish to one day serve as governor of Jerusalem and voiced confidence that the city would eventually come under Turkish administration.
“Jerusalem has been the capital of the Jewish people for 3,000 years and will remain the capital of Israel forever,” Katz wrote. He rejected what he described as aspirations to revive Ottoman influence in the region and argued that Israel remains capable of defending itself against any threats.
