DHAKA: Turkey’s prime minister has accused Israel of ‘barbarism that surpasses Hitler’ during its ground invasion of Gaza.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan made the comment during a campaign speech in the Black Sea port city of Ordu, reports independent.co.uk.

He is running for the presidency in elections next month and has been speaking out strongly against Israel during its offensive against Hamas militants in Gaza, which has killed more than 300 Palestinians.

Erdogan accuses Israel of using disproportionate force and has said the operation there has derailed efforts to normalise Turkish-Israeli ties which soured after Israel’s 2010 raid on an aid ship which killed eight Turks and a Turkish-American.

Hundreds have also staged protests in recent days outside Israeli diplomatic mission in Ankara and Istanbul.

BDST: 1554 HRS, JUL 20, 2014