Erdogan Alerts Israel to Consequences for Hamas Suppressors in Turkey
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hasn't shied away from voicing his solidarity with the Palestinians during the Gaza conflict. His criticism of Israel's methods has been relentless. Any attempts by Israeli intelligence agencies to persecute Hamas supporters outside of their country only strengthens this resentment in Erdogan.
Addressing reporters on his return from Qatar, Erdogan declared, "Cross us in this matter, and you'll pay a price so severe that you will never recover." Earlier, the state news agency Anadolu reported that Ankara threatened "severe consequences" if Israel's secret services pursued Hamas supporters within Turkish borders.
Accusations of Israeli plans to track down and eliminate Hamas leaders globally, particularly after the Gaza war, were recently reported in The Wall Street Journal. Hamas maintains connections in Turkey, and according to sources, some of its officials are reportedly present in the country. Israel considers Hamas a terrorist organization, but Turkey does not share this designation.
Erdogan's Objectives in Gaza War
Now crystal clear in his sentiments, Erdogan has actively shown his hand in the Gaza war. He demands that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stand trial for alleged war crimes in Gaza, referring to Netanyahu as both a war criminal and a " butcher of Gaza, much like Slobodan Milosevic was tried as a war criminal at The Hague." In Milosevic's case, the trials ended with his death from a heart attack before the conclusion of the proceedings in 2006.
Erdogan consistently torments Netanyahu verbally. He even called Netanyahu the " butcher of Gaza" a week prior to this declaration. He also made it emphatically clear that aTwo-state solution within the 1967 borders with peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians is essential.
Further Reading:
In light of Israel's supposed intentions to pursue Hamas supporters in Turkey, Erdogan has issued a menacing warning, warning that they would face consequences "that they will never recover from." Turkey has long supported Hamas, and Hamas leader Ismail Haniya and his family have been living in Qatar for years. While Hamas is considered a terrorist organization in Europe and the USA, it does not hold such a designation in Turkey.
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Additionally, it is worth noting that Erdogan has:
- Demanded Israel pay reparations for the damage caused during the offensive in Gaza, estimating the cost of these attacks around $100 billion.
- Urged the establishment of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, while rejecting a US plan to rebuild Gaza by relocating Palestinians elsewhere.
- Continued to defend Hamas as "resistance fighters" against Israeli occupation. He has even compared Israel's actions to those of Nazi Germany during the Holocaust.
International reactions to this situation have ranged from condemning Turkey's stance to defending its right to protect the interests of its citizens and allies. Regardless of which side one takes, the developments between Turkey and Israel in regards to Hamas have repercussions that will impact the Middle East and beyond.
