Turkey's Erdogan calls for Islamic coalition against Israel

ANKARA,— Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan called on Saturday for Islamic countries to unite in response to what he described as Israel’s growing “expansionist threat,” a statement that quickly drew criticism from Israel’s foreign minister.

Erdogan’s remarks came after reports surfaced that Israeli forces had allegedly killed a Turkish-American woman participating in a protest against settlement expansion in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Palestinian and Turkish sources confirmed her death during Friday’s demonstration.

Speaking at an event hosted by an Islamic schools’ association near Istanbul, Erdogan condemned Israeli actions, urging the Muslim world to take collective steps. “The only way to halt Israeli arrogance, banditry, and state-sponsored terrorism is for Islamic countries to come together,” he declared.

Erdogan emphasized that Turkey’s recent diplomatic moves, such as improving relations with Egypt and Syria, were part of broader efforts to strengthen regional solidarity. He highlighted the importance of creating a united front against what he described as Israel’s aggressive policies, which he said also pose a threat to Lebanon and Syria.

Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, swiftly responded, dismissing Erdogan’s accusations as “dangerous lies” and “incitement.” Katz accused the Turkish president of collaborating with Iran to destabilize moderate Arab governments in the region.

Earlier in the week, Erdogan welcomed Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to Ankara. Their discussions centered on the ongoing conflict in Gaza and furthering diplomatic efforts, marking the first presidential-level meeting between the two countries in over a decade. Relations between Turkey and Egypt have been gradually warming since 2020, when Turkey launched diplomatic outreach to mend ties with several regional rivals, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

In July, Erdogan also expressed his willingness to meet Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, signaling Turkey’s desire to restore relations that had been severed since the onset of Syria’s civil war in 2011.

As for Friday’s incident, the Israeli military announced it was investigating reports that a foreign woman had been fatally shot during the protest, with details still under review. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has not commented on the matter.

(With files from Reuters)