It was a surprising moment at the Aider Plateau Protection and Renewal Project opening in Rize, Turkey, on July 27, 2024.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was seen slapping a young boy across the face after the child hesitated to kiss his hand.

During the event, which featured Erdogan distributing keys to new homeowners, two young boys were brought on stage to greet the president.

As the footage shows, Erdogan extended his hand for the traditional kiss of respect.

One boy took a moment to respond, leading Erdogan to swiftly slap him. The child, unfazed, eventually kissed the president’s hand before receiving a small gift and a hug from Erdogan.

The incident quickly garnered widespread attention on social media.

Critics slammed Erdogan’s actions, questioning how he might behave in private if he acted this way publicly.

Some felt it was a troubling display, calling it “disgusting” and expressing general disillusionment with the state of the world.

On the other hand, some defended Erdogan, pointing out that in Turkish culture, kissing the hand of an elder is a sign of respect. For many, the president’s actions were seen as a way of enforcing cultural norms, even if the method was controversial.

Previous Controversies

This isn’t Erdogan’s first run-in with such incidents.

In 2021, he was criticized for slapping a child who asked for an autograph.

Additionally, there was a notable event where he hit his grandson in public but later claimed he was merely “stroking” him. These past incidents have added to the scrutiny of Erdogan’s public behavior.

Recent Statements and NATO Relations

The controversy comes amid Erdogan’s recent comments threatening to invade Israel in support of Palestine. On July 29, 2024, he declared Turkey’s potential military actions, likening it to past interventions in Nagorno-Karabakh and Libya.

This has led to diplomatic tensions, with Israel’s Foreign Minister urging NATO to expel Turkey and far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders calling for Turkey’s removal from the alliance.

Erdogan’s remarks are part of a broader pattern of strong rhetoric against Israel, including past calls for action from the Islamic world and criticism of Israeli actions in Gaza.

Turkey has also suspended trade with Israel in response to the conflict.

NATO’s Position

Currently, NATO does not have a formal mechanism to expel a member state. However, the alliance’s dynamics and Turkey’s controversial actions continue to fuel discussions about its future role and membership.

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