Reports indicate that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan advocated for the elimination of Israel during Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Çamlıca Mosque in Istanbul on Sunday.

The Jerusalem Post reported that Erdoğan proclaimed, “May Allah, for the sake of his name ‘Al-Qahhar,’ destroy and devastate Zionist Israel.” His remarks calling for the destruction of the Jewish state have sparked strong condemnation, especially from Israeli officials.

In response to his remarks, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar stated on X, “The dictator Erdogan revealed his antisemitic face,” adding that “Erdogan is dangerous to the region, as well as to his own people, as has been proven in recent days,” Sa’ar referred to the widespread protests in Turkey and added, “Let’s hope NATO members understand how dangerous he is, and not before it’s too late.” 

Following his comments, Turkey’s foreign ministry issued a statement that read, in part, “We categorically reject the outrageous statement made by the Foreign Minister of the Netanyahu government.

People chant slogans as they protest the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu in Istanbul on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

“To deflect, Erdogan has engaged in blistering rhetoric against Israel. This comes amidst Erdoğan’s unflinching financial and political support for Hamas since the October 7 war erupted, not to mention Erdoğan’s support for the al-Qaeda government in Syria, which also poses a threat to Israel,” Schanzer said.

The tensions between Turkey and Israel are not limited to Hamas support. Erdoğan’s actions in Syria, where Turkey has backed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, who overthrew the Assad regime and gained control over parts of the country, have further strained relations with Israel, leading to growing concerns over Ankara’s role in fostering instability on Israel’s borders.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, center, meets with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, left, and the former Hamas terror chief Ismail Haniyeh at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Turkiye, on July 26, 2023. ( Mustafa Kamaci/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Before Erdoğan’s most recent threats against Israel, Trump administration officials had indicated that they may lift restrictions on defense contracts with Turkey, including the potential reinstatement of Turkey’s F-35 program participation. This comes after a phone call between Presidents Trump and Erdoğan on March 21, which may pave the way for a change in policy that could potentially allow the sale of the F-35s to Ankara.

As a NATO member, Turkey plays a pivotal role in the alliance’s security framework. 

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