Erdogan says Turkey might 'enter' Israel, to help Palestinians
At a time when Israel might carry out major military offensive in Lebanon, the NATO nation Turkey has issued an ultimatum to Jewish nation over its war on the Gaza Strip.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned that his country could ultimately “enter” Israel, just like we entered Karabakh and the way we entered Libya. While Erdogan has long positioned himself as a major supporter of the Palestinian cause, he has largely abstained from threatening a direct invasion of Israel.
The latest statement has shocked the Benjamin Netanyahu government.
Although Erdogan has long been a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause, this marks a rare instance where he has hinted at the possibility of a direct invasion of Israel.
This declaration has taken the Benjamin Netanyahu government by surprise. On Sunday, Erdogan mentioned that Turkey might take action in Israel similar to its previous involvements in Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh, though he did not specify the nature of the intervention he was alluding to.
Erdogan, a strong critic of Israel’s offensive in Gaza, raised the topic during a speech lauding Turkey’s defense industry. “We must be very strong so that Israel can’t carry out these actions against Palestine. Just as we entered Karabakh, just as we entered Libya, we might do the same in Israel,” Erdogan stated at a meeting of his ruling AK Party in his hometown of Rize.
“There is no reason why we cannot do this ... We must be strong to take these steps,” he added in the televised address.
Erdogan appeared to be referring to Turkey's past military interventions. In 2020, Turkey deployed military personnel to Libya to support the United Nations-recognized Government of National Accord.