Turkiye may enter Israel to aid Palestinians, says Erdogan

ANKARA:
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan hinted on Sunday that Turkiye might intervene in Israel to support Palestinians, similar to its past actions in Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh.
Erdogan, a vocal critic of Israel’s offensive in Gaza, made these remarks during a speech highlighting Turkiye’s defence industry.
Erdogan, speaking at a meeting of his ruling AK Party in Rize, stated, “We must be very strong so that Israel can’t do these ridiculous things to Palestine. Just like we entered Karabakh, just like we entered Libya, we might do similar to them.”
He added, “There is no reason why we cannot do this… We must be strong so that we can take these steps.”
The comments, which were broadcast on television, did not specify the nature of the potential intervention. Representatives from the AK Party did not provide further details, and there was no immediate response from Israel.
Erdogan’s remarks appeared to reference Turkiye’s previous military actions. In 2020, Turkiye deployed military personnel to Libya to support the United Nations-recognised Government of National Accord. Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Al-Dbeibah, leading the Government of National Unity in Tripoli, is supported by Turkiye.
Although Turkiye has denied direct involvement in Azerbaijan’s military operations in Nagorno-Karabakh, it has admitted to using “all means,” including military training and modernisation, to aid its ally. This historical context suggests Erdogan’s comments might be an indication of Turkiye’s readiness to support Palestinians through similar means.
Erdogan could end up like Saddam: Israel
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz has warned that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan could end up like former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, who was toppled and executed by a US-backed coalition, if he attempts to intervene in the Gaza war.
Erdogan traded threats with Israeli officials on Sunday over the IDF’s ongoing military operation in Gaza, as well as rapidly escalating tensions with Lebanese-based armed group Hezbollah. Speaking at a rally in his hometown of Rize, Erdogan suggested that Türkiye could “enter” Israel in order to help the Palestinians.
“We must be very strong so that Israel can’t do these ridiculous things to Palestine,” Erdogan said. In the past he has condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza to those of Nazi Germany – and likened Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler.
Katz responded with a warning of his own on X (formerly Twitter). “Erdogan is going down the path of Saddam Hussein and threatens to attack Israel,” he wrote, adding that the Turkish leader “should just remember what happened there and how that ended.”
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid also blasted Erdogan, calling him a “danger to the Middle East” and a “wannabe dictator.”
“The world, and especially NATO members, must strongly condemn his outrageous threats against Israel and force him to end his support for Hamas,” Lapid wrote on X.
Saddam Hussein was overthrown during the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. He went into hiding, but was eventually caught by US troops, convicted by an Iraqi court of crimes against humanity, and executed by hanging in 2006.
The US under President George W. Bush claimed at the time that the Iraqi leader had connections to Al-Qaeda – a group behind the 9/11 terrorist attacks – and had weapons of mass destruction. Both claims later turned out to be false, but Washington used them as rationale for attacking Iraq, despite having failed to secure the approval of the UN Security Council.