Israeli Minister calls for NATO to expel Türkiye over Erdogan's threats
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz (Photo: Getty Images)
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz has called on NATO to expel Türkiye from the alliance after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened a possible invasion of Israel, similar to Türkiye's previous interventions in Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh, according to The Times of Israel.
Katz instructed diplomats to urgently contact all NATO members, calling for the condemnation of Türkiye and demanding its expulsion from the regional alliance.
Erdogan, who has been actively criticizing Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza, said on Sunday, "We must be very strong so that Israel can’t do these ridiculous things to Palestine. Just like we entered Karabakh, just like we entered Libya, we might do similar to them."
He did not specify what actions he proposed.
In response, Katz said that Erdogan was following in the footsteps of Saddam Hussein and threatening to attack Israel.
"He should remember what happened there and how it ended," added the minister.
He also added that Türkiye, which hosts the headquarters of Hamas, has become part of the Iranian axis of evil along with Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis in Yemen.
Erdogan's criticism
After the Hamas attack in October last year and the start of the IDF operation in the Gaza Strip, the Turkish president called Israel a "war criminal" and an "occupier." In response, Tel Aviv recalled its diplomats from Türkiye.
Erdogan holds Israel responsible for the escalation of tensions in the Middle East and emphasized that Türkiye does not view Hamas as a terrorist organization.
