Echoing Hamas, Erdogan reportedly calls for Israel's destruction amid push to rekindle ties with Trump

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reportedly called for the demolition of Israel during Eid al-Fitr prayers astatine the Çamlıca Mosque successful Istanbul connected Sunday.

The Jerusalem Post reported that Erdoğan said "May Allah, for the involvement of his sanction ‘Al-Qahhar,’ destruct and devastate Zionist Israel." His telephone for the annihilation of the Jewish authorities has drawn fierce condemnation, peculiarly from Israeli officials.

In effect to his remarks, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar stated connected X, "The dictator Erdogan revealed his antisemitic face," adding that "Erdogan is unsafe to the region, arsenic good arsenic to his ain people, arsenic has been proven successful caller days," Sa’ar referred to the wide protests successful Turkey and added, "Let's anticipation NATO members recognize however unsafe helium is, and not earlier it's excessively late." 

Following his comments, Turkey's overseas ministry issued a connection that read, successful part, "We categorically cull the outrageous connection made by the Foreign Minister of the Netanyahu government.

TURKEY'S ERDOGAN CONTINUES CRACKDOWN ON PROTESTERS FOLLOWING ARREST OF MAIN RIVAL ON CORRUPTION CHARGES 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan speaks to the attendees during a rally to amusement their solidarity with the Palestinians, successful Istanbul connected Saturday, Oct. 28. (AP/Emrah Gurel)

"These disrespectful and baseless allegations are portion of an effort to screen up the crimes committed by Netanyahu and his associates," adding, "We volition proceed to basal by the guiltless civilians targeted by Israel and to support their rights."

In a societal media post, Israel’s overseas ministry demanded clarity connected whether Erdoğan denies his antisemitic views, emphasizing the president’s problematic actions some domestically and internationally. 

"What bothered the Turkish Foreign Ministry? Here’s a mode to clarify the dictator’s words: Clearly authorities that Erdogan is not an antisemite, that helium is not an obsessive hater of the Jewish state." 

The station underscores the increasing interest implicit Erdoğan’s intentions toward Israel.

The tensions betwixt Turkey and Israel spell beyond Erdoğan’s enactment for Hamas, though that remains a cardinal issue. Hamas, which carried retired the brutal massacre of much than 1,200 Israelis connected October 7, 2023, has agelong had Turkish backing. Erdoğan’s refusal to denounce Hamas, describing them arsenic a morganatic governmental party, has angered Israel and overmuch of the planetary community.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, right, with Israeli President Isaac Herzog successful March 2022.

The diplomatic narration betwixt Turkey and the U.S. has besides been nether scrutiny. While Turkey’s home actions, similar cracking down connected governmental opponents, including the apprehension of Istanbul’s politician Ekrem İmamoglu, person sparked unprecedented protests, U.S. officials are attempting to stabilize relations. On March 26, Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, discussing Turkey’s imaginable enactment for a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire and different geopolitical issues, contempt caller interior turmoil.

"Turkey’s strongman Recep Tayyip Erdogan is facing the worst home governmental situation of his career. The streets are flooded present with protesters who are outraged implicit the apprehension of absorption person Ekrem Imamoglu, restrictions connected the internet, and different authoritarian maneuvers," Jonathan Schanzer, enforcement manager of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital.

TRUMP UNIQUELY PLACED TO ‘WHISPER’ IN ERDOGAN’S EAR OVER TURKISH REGIONAL AMBITIONS: GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER

People chant slogans arsenic they protestation the apprehension of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu successful Istanbul connected Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

"To deflect, Erdogan has engaged successful blistering rhetoric against Israel. This comes amidst Erdoğan’s unflinching fiscal and governmental enactment for Hamas since the October 7 warfare erupted, not to notation Erdoğan’s enactment for the al-Qaeda authorities successful Syria, which besides poses a menace to Israel," Schanzer said.

The tensions betwixt Turkey and Israel are not constricted to Hamas support. Erdoğan’s actions successful Syria, wherever Turkey has backed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, who overthrew the Assad authorities and gained power implicit parts of the country, person further strained relations with Israel, starring to increasing concerns implicit Ankara’s relation successful fostering instability connected Israel’s borders.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, center, meets with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, left, and the erstwhile Hamas panic main Ismail Haniyeh astatine the Presidential Complex successful Ankara, Turkiye, connected July 26, 2023. ( Mustafa Kamaci/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

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Before Erdoğan's astir caller threats against Israel, Trump medication officials had indicated that they whitethorn assistance restrictions connected defence contracts with Turkey, including the imaginable reinstatement of Turkey’s F-35 programme participation. This comes aft a telephone telephone betwixt Presidents Trump and Erdoğan connected March 21, which whitethorn pave the mode for a alteration successful argumentation that could perchance let the merchantability of the F-35s to Ankara.

As a NATO member, Turkey plays a pivotal relation successful the alliance’s information framework.