Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the prime minister of Turkey, has called Israel's current ground striking of Gaza "barbarism that surpasses Hitler." The prime minster was speaking at Ordu on Saturday when he made his remarks during a campaign speech.

Amid current protests in cities from London to New York, and after Israeli president Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue with the assault on Gaza, Erdogan's comments echo other remarks he had previously made about Israel after ties cooled between the two countries in 2010.

The Associated Press reports that the Israeli offensive has killed at least 300 Palestinians so far.

Via the AP:

Erdogan accused Israel of using disproportionate force in Gaza and said the operation there has derailed efforts to normalize Turkish-Israeli ties. Those soured after Israel's 2010 raid on an aid ship which killed eight Turks and a Turkish-American.

Erdogan is running for president of Turkey in this month's upcoming elections.

[Image via AP]