Israel urges NATO expel Türkiye over possible intervention

Following Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s comments on the possibility of entering Israel over its actions in Gaza, the Israeli Foreign Minister urged NATO to expel Turkey from the defensive alliance on July 29th, reported Reuters and agencies.

Though not specifying what sort of intervention the Turkish military would take in Israel, Erdogan said that it would be similar to previous involvement in Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh in the past.

“In light of Turkish President Erdogan’s threats to invade Israel and his dangerous rhetoric, Foreign Minister Israel Katz instructed diplomats … to urgently engage with all NATO members, calling for the condemnation of Türkiye and demanding its expulsion from the regional alliance,” stated the foreign ministry.

Erdogan has been a fierce critic of Israel’s offensive in Gaza and announced, “We must be very strong so that Israel can’t do these ridiculous things to Palestine” at a meeting of his ruling AK Party in his hometown of Rize.

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Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz commented on the Turkish President’s comments, stating, “Erdogan is following in the footsteps of Saddam Hussein and threatening to attack Israel. He should remember what happened there and how it ended”.

“Türkiye, which hosts the Hamas headquarters responsible for terrorist attacks against Israel, has become a member of the Iranian axis of evil, alongside Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis in Yemen,” added the Foreign Minister.

Türkiye was the first Muslim-majority country to recognise Israeli sovereignty in March 1949 and were close regional allies. However, in the past two decades, relations between the two nations have deteriorated, particularly under Erdogan’s presidency, which started in August 2014.

Bilateral trade between Israel and Türkiye has weathered many diplomatic storms, with the total value of exchanged goods and services standing at $6.2 billion in 2023; however, the Turkish government announced that it would halt all trade with Israel until the war ends and aid can enter Gaza unhindered.

Reuters and agencies