Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has escalated his rhetoric by threatening military intervention in Israel to support Palestinians, sparking concerns about a potential regional conflict. During a speech to his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Rize, a city on the Black Sea, Erdoğan declared that Turkey must be strong enough to prevent Israel from committing “ridiculous” acts against Palestine.
Erdoğan remarked, “Just as we intervened in Karabakh and Libya, we will take similar action.” Although Erdoğan’s statements are often aimed at appealing to his Islamist base, Turkey’s significant military presence—being NATO’s second-largest force—adds weight to his threats. Turkey has previously been involved in regional conflicts, including supporting Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh War of 2020 and deploying troops in Libya to support the UN-recognized government.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz responded to Erdoğan’s remarks by comparing him to the former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Katz warned Erdoğan to remember the outcomes faced by those who threatened Israel in the past.
Erdoğan has sharply criticized Israel’s actions in its ongoing conflict with Hamas, accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of genocide, halting trade with Israel, and recalling the Turkish ambassador. In response, Israel has recalled its diplomats from Turkey and accused Ankara of backing Hamas and Iran.
Turkey’s foreign ministry also targeted Netanyahu in a statement, likening him to Adolf Hitler and suggesting that like Hitler, Netanyahu will face a reckoning. The statement emphasized that those attacking Palestinians would be held accountable, and declared that the international community would support the Palestinians.
Recent Israeli airstrikes on Gaza’s Bureij and Nuseirat refugee camps have resulted in numerous casualties, while fighting continues in Khan Younis. Tensions have been heightened following a rocket attack on a football pitch in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that killed 12 children. Israel and the U.S. attribute the attack to Iran-backed Hezbollah, which has denied involvement. Israel has pledged retaliation.
The conflict has resulted in over 39,000 Palestinian deaths since Israel’s offensive began in response to the October 7 Hamas attack, which killed 1,200 Israelis. As the conflict approaches its 300th day, fears of broader escalation remain high.