Israel's Cabinet has unanimously approved a proposal to officially recognize the mass killings of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire during World War I as genocide, marking a major policy shift that highlights worsening relations with Turkey.
The proposal, approved on Sunday, still requires the approval of Israel's Parliament before becoming official.
For decades, Israel avoided formally recognizing the killings as genocide, largely to maintain relations with Turkey, which strongly rejects the term and has campaigned against such recognition worldwide. However, ties between the two countries have steadily worsened, particularly during the conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran.
Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman forces around the time of World War I. Most historians consider the killings the first genocide of the 20th century. Turkey disputes that characterization, arguing that the death toll has been exaggerated and that those who died were victims of civil war and unrest rather than a planned campaign of extermination.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, who presented the proposal to the Cabinet, said the Armenian genocide has long been supported by extensive historical evidence but has faced organized efforts to deny or downplay it.
He noted that several Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have previously referred to the events as genocide, though Israel's Parliament has never formally adopted that position.
"It is never too late to do the right thing," Saar said, describing the move as both a moral and historical responsibility.
According to Saar, 32 countries, including the United States, Syria and Lebanon, have already officially recognized the Armenian genocide.
Turkey strongly criticized Israel's decision, calling it politically motivated and accusing Israel of trying to divert attention from allegations over its military campaign in Gaza.
In a statement, Turkey's Foreign Ministry said Israel was attempting to hide its own actions against Palestinians and dismissed the recognition effort as an attempt to ignore historical and legal facts.
Relations between Israel and Turkey, once close allies, have steadily deteriorated since the rise of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Israel has also faced repeated accusations from the United Nations, Turkey and other international bodies that its military campaign in Gaza amounts to genocide. Israel firmly rejects the allegations, saying its military targets Hamas militants rather than civilians and accusing Hamas of using civilians as human shields.
The war in Gaza began after Hamas launched its attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Gaza's Health Ministry says more than 73,000 people have been killed in the conflict, about half of them women and children. Israel disputes allegations of genocide and says it is acting in self-defense.
Last week, a panel of independent experts appointed by the United Nations accused Israel of deliberately killing children in Gaza and repeated claims that genocide had occurred. Israel rejected the report, calling it false and defamatory.