Israel officially recognizes the Armenian Genocide

On Sunday, June 28, 2026, the Israeli Cabinet unanimously approved a proposal by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar to officially recognize the 1915 mass displacement and death of 1.5 million Armenians as a genocide. Israel became the 35th country to formally recognize these events, which the minister described as a moral obligation. The Turkish government and the Turkish Cypriot authorities strongly denounced the decision, labeling it as hypocrisy and a political smear campaign. Ankara and the Turkish Cypriot 'foreign ministry' claimed the move is an attempt by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government to distract from allegations of war crimes in Gaza and proceedings at the International Criminal Court. Turkish officials further argued that Israel lacks the moral authority to address historical events while facing international legal scrutiny. The decision has exacerbated the already strained diplomatic relations between Israel and Turkey. Ankara reaffirmed its rejection of the term 'genocide' regarding the 1915 events, viewing the move as part of Israel's broader regional policies.