Lawmakers in Turkey recently convened a closed-door session to discuss the escalating conflicts in the Middle East. Last week, President Tayyip Erdogan sparked controversy with claims that Israel had intentions to encroach on Turkish territory. Analysts and opposition lawmakers dismissed Erdogan’s claims as a diversion tactic from Turkey’s economic issues.
The closed-door parliamentary session in Ankara, titled “Israel’s occupation of Lebanon and developments in the region,” did not receive a public response from Israel. Speaker Numan Kurtulmus stated that the foreign and defense ministers would provide insights on the risks of conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon widening further.
Turkey, a vocal critic of Israel, halted trade with the country and has applied to join a genocide case against it at the World Court. Erdogan’s statements about Israel targeting Turkey’s homeland have raised concerns among Turkish officials and citizens.
While some fear that chaos in neighboring countries could spill over to Turkey’s borders, others, like the leader of the main opposition party, doubt the likelihood of such an event. Polls indicate strong public support for the Turkish government’s stance on Israel, with demands for more decisive action. Critics question whether Turkey is still indirectly supplying goods to Israel despite the trade ban.