Israel's Saar accuses Turkey's Fidan of spreading blood libels

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan of continuing to spread what he called lies and blood libels against Israel, saying Fidan is acting in the service of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The statement reflects deepening friction between Jerusalem and Ankara, whose relationship has deteriorated sharply since the war in Gaza began, with Erdoğan repeatedly issuing harsh condemnations of Israel's conduct. Saar's remarks suggest Israel views Turkish official rhetoric as crossing from political criticism into incitement. No further details on specific comments by Fidan were included in the statement. The exchange underscores the increasingly hostile diplomatic climate between the two regional powers, once close allies, and comes amid broader tensions across the Middle East over the ongoing conflict and its fallout.