Turkiye may consider intervening in the ongoing conflict in Gaza to protect Palestinians, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday.
During a speech to his party members, Erdogan emphasized Turkiye’s advancements in the defense industry, asserting that there is “no reason” not to intervene in the Gaza conflict.
“We could do the same to them (Israel) as we did in Karabakh and Libya. There is nothing stopping us from taking these steps, provided we are strong enough” Erdogan declared.
Erdogan drew a parallel between potential actions against Israel and Turkiye’s previous military involvements in Karabakh and Libya in 2020.
The news comes as Israel’s war on Gaza claimed over 39,900 lives.
“We need to be strong so that Israel cannot continue these actions against Palestine,” Erdogan stressed, underscoring the importance of Turkish strength in the region.
In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz issued a warning, comparing Erdogan’s rhetoric to that of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
“Erdogan follows in the footsteps of Saddam Hussein and threatens to attack Israel. Just let him remember what happened there and how it ended,” Katz posted on X.
ארדואן הולך בדרכו של סדאם חוסיין ומאיים לתקוף את ישראל. רק שיזכור מה קרה שם ואיך זה הסתיים.@RTErdogan pic.twitter.com/6GykLtLoh4
— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) July 28, 2024
The potential for escalation in the Middle East continues to grow as a projectile fell on Sunday on a football field in a Druze community in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, killing 12 children and young people and injuring 30 others.
Israel has vowed retaliation, raising concerns about a broader conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which could potentially lead to a wider regional war.
Hezbollah emphatically denied being responsible, saying that what hit the football pitch was an Israeli anti-rocket interceptor projectile.
US officials have expressed their concerns about the security situation, warning that without a ceasefire in Gaza, the likelihood of a conflict between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah is increasing.