Status: 27.10.2023, 14:22 PM
By: Erkan Pehlivan
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The majority of Turkey wants its region to remain neutral in the Gaza war. But President Erdogan and his government officials are agitating against Israel.
Ankara – Since the devastating attack on Israel by the terrorist militia Hamas on 7 October, politicians in Turkey have repeatedly proclaimed their solidarity with the Palestinian people. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan goes even further and backs Hamas. "Hamas is not a terrorist organization. It is a liberation and mujahideen group that wants to liberate its people and country," Erdogan said at a meeting of his ruling AKP party.
Solidarity with Palestine by all parties in Turkey
Solidarity with Palestine runs through almost all parties. The leader of the aid organization IHH, Bülent Yıldırım, had even threatened the international community with the creation of an army of volunteers against Israel to fight against Israel. "If we start with volunteer fighters, we will kill you in our spit. Do you believe that we will remain silent," the supporter of President Erdogan said at a rally.
Islamists and nationalists in particular repeatedly agitate against Israel and Jews in Turkey. Israel has therefore recalled its diplomats from the country.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the head of the religious authority, Ali Erbas, have repeatedly criticized Israel. © IMAGO/Mehmet Masum Suer
Survey on Gaza war is clear
The people of Turkey, on the other hand, want their country to remain neutral in the conflict. The Turkish polling institute Metropoll wanted to know what they expect from their government in view of the Gaza war. The results are clear.
- 34.5 percent of respondents voted for "should be neutral"
- 26.4 percent voted for "should mediate"
- 18.1 percent voted "should take up the Palestinian cause but distance itself from Hamas"
- 11.3 percent voted "should support Hamas"
- 3.0 percent voted "should support Israel"
- 6.7 percent had no answer
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Head of religious authority Diyanet calls Israel murderer and occupier
And the tone against Israel is intensifying even further. In addition to Erdogan, the leader of Turkey's religious authority Diyanet, Ali Ebaş, also criticized Israel in a clearly sharp tone: "To the murderers and occupiers: Like all oppressors in history, you too will perish and be held accountable," Ebaş said in a speech he published on X on Thursday.
Today, the top religious official doubled down on his Friday sermon. "You will not get away with your oppression. History is full of examples of this, take a lesson from history. The slaughter of the innocents, whom you have slaughtered today, will soon overtake you."
Diyanet chief remains silent on human rights violations and mass arrests
However, the Diyanet leader has so far avoided commenting critically on either the occupation of parts of northern Syria (Kurdish: Rojava) or the ongoing attacks by the Turkish military in the region. Attacks on Kurds in the neighbouring country repeatedly kill civilians and destroy civilian infrastructure. Most recently, the water and electricity supply of around 2 million people in the region collapsed due to the Turkish attacks. Nor has there been any criticism from Ebaş of the mass arrests of Gülenists and Kurds in his country, which have continued since the 2016 coup attempt.