Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has advocated for the formation of a broader alliance of Islamic nations to confront what he perceives as an “expansionist threat” from Israel.
During an Islamic schools’ association event outside Istanbul on Saturday, Erdogan asserted that such an alliance is the only way to halt what he called Israeli “arrogance,” “banditry,” and “state terrorism.” He highlighted Ankara’s recent efforts to strengthen ties with Syria and Egypt, which he described as steps towards “forming a line of solidarity against the growing threat of expansionism.”
Erdogan accused Israel of aiming for a larger Middle East conflict in order to conquer and occupy more territory. He praised Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, for its fight against Israel, stating it has been battling “on behalf of Muslims” and “defending Islamic lands,” including Türkiye. He further claimed that Israel’s aggression will not stop in Gaza, and that after occupying Ramallah, Israel will target Lebanon and Syria, eventually setting its sights on Türkiye.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz dismissed these allegations, calling them a “dangerous lie and incitement.” He asserted that Israel has only been defending itself from “the murderers and rapists of Hamas,” and “from the Shiite axis of evil led by Iran.” On X, he criticized Erdogan, accusing him of fueling hatred and violence for the benefit of his Hamas allies.
Erdogan has long presented himself as a champion of the Palestinian cause, making increasingly hostile remarks against Israel, particularly West Jerusalem, amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas since Hamas’s surprise attack on October 7. In July, Erdogan even threatened a direct invasion of Israel over the Gaza conflict, while West Jerusalem warned that Erdogan could ultimately meet the same fate as Saddam Hussein if he continues his aggressive rhetoric.