Erdogan on Israel

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has escalated his rhetoric against Israel, threatening possible military intervention while denouncing the recent assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. During a speech, Erdogan hinted at military actions similar to Turkey's past interventions in Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh, which involved non-state actors and proxy fighters. In a call with U.S. President Joe Biden, Erdogan expressed disappointment over Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's actions and accused Israel of obstructing ceasefire efforts, stressing the negative global impact of these actions. Turkey has blocked NATO from cooperating with Israel since October, citing violations of NATO principles due to Israel's military actions in Gaza. Erdogan declared a national day of mourning to honor Haniyeh, reinforcing Turkey's solidarity with the Palestinian cause. These developments signal a significant deterioration in Turkish-Israeli relations amidst broader regional tensions.