Turkish strongman Reccip Tayyip Erdogan has prompt that he might invade Israel with a purpose to shield the rights of Palestinians struggling beneath the nation’s conflict in opposition to Hamas.
Addressing members of his ruling Justice and Improvement Occasion within the Black Sea metropolis of Rize the place he grew up, Erdogan appeared to threaten the possibility of army motion in opposition to the Israeli state.
“We must be very sturdy, in order that Israel can’t do that stuff to Palestine,” Erdogan stated.
“Similar to we entered Karabakh, similar to we entered Libya, we will do just like them,” he continued, a reference to his invasion of neighboring Armenia again in 2021.
“There is no such thing as a cause to not do it,” he added. “We have to be sturdy to take these steps.”
Erdogan has lengthy been a staunch opponent of Israel, accusing its army of genocide in Gaza. He has beforehand in contrast Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler and described him as each a “psychopath” and a “vampire.”
Turkey broke off all diplomatic relations with Israel within the early months of the conflict and has additionally halted all commerce with its Center Jap neighbor.
Nevertheless, Erdogan has by no means beforehand gone as far as to suggest a army intervention, a transfer that will inevitably escalate diplomatic tensions and should even result in a 3rd world conflict.
Posting on the X platform after his remarks, Turkey’s communications minister Fahrettin Altun tried to minimize Erdogan’s remarks, claiming that his boss had “devoted his life to combating injustice and cruelty.”
“Our message to Israel is evident: Cease the genocide and settle for Palestinian sovereignty if you’d like lasting peace and safety,” he wrote.
“The Israeli leaders are condemning their very own folks to perpetual conflict,” he continued. “Their makes an attempt to cover this truth by manipulating public opinion is not going to work. You can’t conceal your conflict crimes by concentrating on our chief.”
Our President Erdoğan has devoted his life to combating injustice and cruelty. He has all the time been on the aspect of the persecuted and the wronged. He has proudly, resolutely and stubbornly offended the oppressors. Those that dare threaten him accomplish that at their very own peril. This isn’t a…
— Fahrettin Altun (@fahrettinaltun) July 29, 2024