Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz has accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of getting involved in a conflict with the sons of assassinated Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh over his alleged funds in Turkish banks, a claim denied as “disinformation” by Ankara.
Katz, who has been engaged in a war of words with Turkish government officials over his verbal attacks on Erdoğan, has once again targeted the Turkish head of state, alleging on X on Friday that a conflict erupted between Erdoğan and the sons of Haniyeh this week, who demanded the $3 billion held in Turkish bank accounts under their father’s name after Erdoğan allegedly refused to release the funds.
Haniyeh, a close ally of Erdoğan, was killed along with his bodyguard in an explosion in his residence in the Iranian capital after attending the inauguration of Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, on July 31.
Katz questioned how Haniyeh amassed his alleged wealth and how Erdoğan is connected to the money.
This week, a conflict erupted between @RTErdogan and the sons of Ismail Haniyeh, who demanded the $3 billion held in Turkish bank accounts under their father's name. Erdoğan refused to release the funds.
How did Haniyeh, born in the Al-Shati refugee camp, amass such a fortune?… pic.twitter.com/7Eblaw4HdK
— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) August 16, 2024
His allegations have drawn an angry response from the Turkish Foreign Ministry, which described the allegations as “slander” for the purpose of disinformation targeting “martyr Ismail Haniyeh” and Erdoğan.
“These lies, which aim to divert attention from the genocide taking place in Gaza, will not hinder our support for the Palestinian people,” the ministry added.
İsrail Dışişleri Bakanı Katz’ın, Şehit İsmail Haniye’yi ve Sayın Cumhurbaşkanımızı hedef alan sosyal medya paylaşımı, dezenformasyon amaçlı bir iftiradır.
Dikkatleri Gazze’de yaşanan soykırımdan uzaklaştırmayı amaçlayan bu yalanlar, Filistin halkına olan desteğimizi…
— T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı (@TC_Disisleri) August 16, 2024
Tensions, which have been running high between Turkey and Israel due to Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, launched in retaliation for an unprecedented Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, have reached new heights following the assassination of Haniyeh in Tehran.
Erdoğan, who frequently hosted Haniyeh in Turkey, strongly condemned the attack on Haniyeh, blamed it on Israel and declared a national day of mourning in Turkey, sparking a fresh exchange of accusations and verbal attacks between Turkish and Israeli officials.