This Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan once again rejected a proposal from the United States that suggested relocating Palestinians from Gaza. He also called for Israel to be held financially responsible for the destruction it has caused in the region and insisted that efforts to rebuild Gaza should begin immediately.
While in Malaysia, Erdogan made it clear that he did not view the proposal to forcibly remove Palestinians from Gaza as a reasonable solution. He remarked, “The idea of forcing Palestinians out of the lands they’ve inhabited for millennia is not something we can take seriously.” He also referred to the displacement of Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, calling it a second Nakba, and stated, “No one has the right to make the Palestinian people endure a second tragedy like the first.”
Erdogan’s comments come in stark contrast to suggestions made by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who had advocated for the removal of Palestinians from Gaza and the establishment of full control over the area. Trump’s approach called for “clearing” Gaza of its indigenous Palestinian population.
During his visit to Malaysia, part of a broader tour of Southeast Asia that also includes Indonesia and Pakistan, Erdogan drew attention to the severe devastation inflicted upon Gaza by Israel. He stated that instead of seeking new locations to house the people of Gaza, the Israeli government should prioritize finding the necessary funds to compensate for the widespread destruction, which he estimated at a cost of $100 billion. He added that these funds should be used for Gaza’s reconstruction, rather than attempting to forcibly displace its people.
Erdogan’s double standards on Palestine Issue
Despite his firm condemnation of Israel’s actions and his vocal criticism of its treatment of Palestinians, Erdogan has maintained a history of collaboration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Both Turkey and Israel have previously supported the Nusra Front, a Syrian Al-Qaeda affiliate, during the group’s campaign to overthrow the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. This collaboration was part of an effort to stir sectarian conflict and destabilize Syria.
Moreover, Erdogan’s government has also played a crucial role in ensuring the flow of oil from Azerbaijan to Israel, a critical resource for the Israeli economy and military. Azerbaijani oil, transported through Turkey’s pipelines, is then sent to Israel’s Haifa port via tankers departing from the Turkish port of Ceyhan.
Before the outbreak of the war on Gaza in October 2023, Erdogan had a meeting with Netanyahu during the UN General Assembly. In this meeting, the two leaders discussed a potential agreement to build an underwater natural gas pipeline linking Israel to Turkey. This initiative is part of Turkey’s broader ambitions to become a central energy hub, facilitating the transportation of oil and gas from the Middle East to Europe.
Erdogan’s administration has also been involved in the controversial sale of oil from the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk to Israel, starting in 2014. This oil trade began after Kurdish forces, under the leadership of Masoud Barzani, seized Kirkuk amid the chaos of the ISIS occupation of Mosul. Erdogan’s government, in collaboration with Barzani, facilitated the construction of a pipeline to transport the oil from Kirkuk to Turkey. From there, it was shipped to Israel, further deepening the economic ties between the two nations despite Erdogan’s ongoing public criticisms of Israeli policies towards Palestinians.
In sum, Erdogan’s rhetoric regarding Israel and its treatment of Palestinians often contrasts with his government’s practical and economic cooperation with Israel. While he continues to voice strong opposition to Israel’s actions in Gaza, his administration has played a significant role in supporting Israeli economic interests, particularly in the fields of oil and energy.
