Turkey Warns Israel Threatens Region After Qatar Airstrike

Turkey has expressed serious concerns following an Israeli airstrike on Hamas officials in Qatar, with Turkish Defense Ministry spokesman Rear Adm. Zeki Akturk warning that Israel may expand its attacks and destabilize the region, potentially dragging even Israel into disaster. Relations between Turkey and Israel, once cooperative, have deteriorated sharply since the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, compounded by Turkey's strong support for the Palestinian cause and hosting of Hamas officials. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has strongly condemned Israeli actions, accusing Prime Minister Netanyahu of genocide and likening him to Adolf Hitler, while maintaining close ties with Qatar, which recently suffered the strike. Analysts highlight Israel's ability to conduct cross-border strikes with seeming impunity, bypassing regional air defenses and international norms, which deeply worries Ankara and is seen as part of a broader Israeli strategy to establish a buffer of weakened states around it. Former Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu emphasized that Israel’s attack on Qatar, a U.S. ally hosting CENTCOM headquarters, threatens regional stability and undermines ongoing peace efforts. Erdogan is scheduled to attend a summit in Qatar amid these heightened tensions, underscoring Turkey's pivotal role and concerns in the evolving regional conflict.