Turkish President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan condemned Israel’s military actions in Gaza on Sunday, threatening potential military intervention similar to Turkey’s past interventions in Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh). With his statement, Erdoğan has indirectly acknowledged Turkey’s role in the ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan in 2023.
At an AKP meeting in the city of Rize in northeast Turkey, Erdoğan declared, “We can do the same to them as we did in Karabakh and Libya. There is nothing to prevent us from doing so.”
This statement prompted a sharp response from Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz, who likened Erdoğan to Iraq’s deposed leader Saddam Hussein. Katz posted on social media, “Erdoğan is following in Saddam Hussein’s footsteps by threatening Israel. He should remember what happened to Hussein.” Katz’s post, featuring side-by-side photos of Erdoğan and Hussein, intensified the verbal exchange.
ארדואן הולך בדרכו של סדאם חוסיין ומאיים לתקוף את ישראל. רק שיזכור מה קרה שם ואיך זה הסתיים.@RTErdogan pic.twitter.com/6GykLtLoh4
— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) July 28, 2024
In response, the Turkish Foreign Ministry compared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler, stating that Netanyahu would meet a similar end. “Just as genocidal Hitler met his end, so too will genocidal Netanyahu. The world will stand by the Palestinians, and those trying to eradicate them will be held accountable,” the ministry said.
In the same speech, Erdoğan also criticised Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas for not accepting Turkey’s invitation, stating, “Mr Abbas, who did not accept our invitation, should apologise first,” adding that Turkey would adjust its approach accordingly.
This criticism comes against the backdrop of the Beijing Declaration, where fourteen Palestinian factions, including Fatah and Hamas, signed a landmark unity agreement. Turkey, which has been actively seeking to enhance its role as a regional broker, appears disturbed by its exclusion from the Chinese-brokered talks.
Experts suggest Erdoğan’s statements may be a strategic manoeuvre to bolster his domestic standing while Turkey continues its business dealings with Israel. Gönül Tol, Director of the Middle East Institute’s Turkish programme, explains:
“As autocrats’ bases become more homogeneous, the dose of such irrational statements increases. For example, Trump’s base in 2016 was more homogeneous—more conservative, older, more evangelical and less educated—resulting in more radical rhetoric. Erdoğan is in a similar situation. As opposition from the YRP [New Welfare Party] intensifies, such rhetoric becomes inevitable.”
Tol’s analysis highlights Erdoğan’s increasingly radical statements that are a response to growing domestic pressures, particularly from the YRP, a rival conservative Islamist party. This dynamic often drives leaders to adopt more extreme positions to consolidate their base. Despite his harsh rhetoric against Israel, Erdoğan has not severed economic ties, such as the continued transport of Azerbaijani oil through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, reflecting a balancing act between capitalising on pro-Palestinian sentiments for domestic support while avoiding positioning himself on the wrong side of international relations.
Additionally, Erdoğan’s strong stance on Palestine contrasts sharply with Turkey’s actions in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In 2020, Turkey provided significant military support to Azerbaijan against the ethnic Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh), including advanced drones, military advisors and potentially also Syrian mercenaries. This support was pivotal in Azerbaijan’s military successes and led to the displacement of thousands of ethnic Armenians from their historical lands, an act widely criticised as ethnic cleansing. Human rights organisations documented significant abuses during the conflict, drawing parallels to the aggressive military actions Erdoğan now condemns in Gaza.
This recent exchange between Israel and Turkey over accusations of crimes against humanity is not unprecedented. Historically, both nations have used the term “genocide” to attack each other, often exploiting the term to discredit one another.
On 26 March, Harut Sassounian criticised Netanyahu and Erdoğan for exploiting the term “genocide” in their ongoing feud. Despite a long history of strategic ties, their relationship has deteriorated over Palestinian issues.
Both nations have denied the Armenian Genocide. Turkey has used its alliance with Israel to block US recognition and suppress related discussions. Relations further soured after the 2010 Mavi Marmara incident, where Israeli forces attacked a Turkish aid convoy, killing nine passengers.
Recent tensions included Israeli customs intercepting explosive materials in a Turkish shipment to Gaza, yet no action was taken against Turkey, seen as appeasement by Israel. Following a Hamas attack on Israel, Erdoğan called Hamas “freedom fighters” and compared Netanyahu to historical dictators. Israel’s Foreign Minister responded by condemning Erdoğan’s stance and accusing him of hypocrisy over the Armenian Genocide.
Both leaders are criticised for weaponising historical atrocities for political gain rather than addressing them sincerely.
