The Middle East is descending into deeper uncertainty and chaos, mainly due to Israel’s unattainable ambitions in Gaza and the ambiguous international politics affecting the region, according to Professor Dr Cengiz Aktar, who reflected on the tumultuous state of the region in an interview with Tolga Güney from Mezopotamya Ajansı on Wednesday.
“The dream of Israel to establish a colony administration in Gaza is not feasible,” Prof Aktar stated, highlighting the impact of uncertain international politics on the war-ravaged region.
Aktar emphasised the grim reality for people in the Middle East, living under the shadow of wars and political upheaval. On Israel’s prolonged offensive in Gaza, he remarked, “Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu says attacks will continue until Hamas is eliminated,” emphasising the heavy toll of 22,835 Palestinian deaths and 58,166 injuries to date.
He also commented on the situation in Yemen and the Houthi government’s seizure of Israel-bound ships in the Red Sea. Referring to the subsequent US military response, Aktar said, “This step has drawn attention to this region due to the potential conflict escalation it creates.”
In Iran, bombings during a ceremony for leading Revolutionary Guard Qasem Soleimani on 3 January led to 91 deaths. “The Iranian regime holds the United States responsible for this attack,” Aktar highlighted. He also pointed to the ongoing Turkish military operations in North and East Syria and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
Delving into the specifics of the Israeli assault on Gaza, Aktar observed, “‘What will Israel do afterwards?’ is the biggest unknown in the attacks on Gaza,” echoing concerns raised by Israel’s allies, including the US. He described Israel’s current government as the most fascist in its history, and expressed scepticism of its ambitions in Gaza.
“The Middle East awaits the outcome of Israel’s quagmire in silence,” Aktar said, stressing the universal cost of war. Elaborating, he said, “From Lebanon’s Hezbollah to Yemen’s Houthis, even more conservative Arab states allied with the US may bear this cost.”
On the involvement of global powers, Aktar commented, “Both the US and Russia are faltering as they try to bring order to the world.” He criticised the inconsistent foreign policy of the US, particularly its stance on Israel and the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. “All these uncertainties have driven the already chaotic region further into the unknown,” he concluded.
Professor Dr. Cengiz Aktar is a prominent Turkish academic and expert on European Union affairs. He graduated from Galatasaray Highschool and pursued higher education at Sorbonne University, specialising in economics. His career includes significant roles at the United Nations, where he contributed to the development of EU migration and asylum policies. Additionally, he has been an influential voice in Turkish media as a columnist for several newspapers. A father of two, Aktar is also known for his advocacy on social issues in Turkey.
