How the Israel-Gaza war is impacting Turkey’s role in the region
Two months into the Israel-Gaza war, fighting has resumed following a seven-day ceasefire and the Palestinian death toll is approaching 16,000. The conflict, sparked by the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, has once again strained relations across the region, and Turkey is no exception.
In recent weeks, Israeli envoys and diplomats departed Ankara, Turkey joined protesting nations in recalling its envoy to Israel, and previously anticipated talks on Israel-Turkey energy cooperation have been paused, along with broader bilateral rapprochement efforts.
At the same time, Turkish Pres. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s condemnations of the Israel’s military offensive have grown sharper. Last week, he labelled Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu the “Butcher of Gaza” and Monday added he’d be tried for war crimes “just like” former Serbian Pres. Slobodan Milošević.
The critical rhetoric can be read as ideological and electoral posturing, but Erdoğan’s steady drum beat of indignation also threatens to undermine his stated aim of playing a role in conflict resolution, analysts told Turkey recap.
They added ongoing events and may also place greater scrutiny on Turkey’s relations with Hamas and Iran, though an eventual return to more constructive Israel-Turkey ties remains a possibility.
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