Politics
Israel fuels regional tensions, undermines peace efforts: Erdoğan
Israel is fueling regional tensions and undermining efforts to end conflicts, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Monday, while stressing that Türkiye’s priority remains shielding the country from instability and strengthening its economy.
Speaking at a news conference after a Cabinet meeting in the capital Ankara, the president said Israel is reinforcing its role as a source of instability in the region through its actions in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, criticizing the Israeli government for deliberately obstructing initiatives aimed at ending ongoing conflicts.
“By keeping Al-Aqsa Mosque closed, introducing the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners, and carrying out attacks in Lebanon and Syria, Israel confirms and reinforces that it is a country that feeds on tension,” Erdoğan said, adding that the Israeli government continues to undermine all efforts aimed at ending the war.
Erdoğan said Türkiye has acted responsibly since the start of the conflict affecting Iran and the Gulf, warning that the war risks spreading across the region as it enters its 38th day.
“If there is even the slightest chance to silence the guns and open space for negotiations, we are making a sincere effort to seize it,” Erdoğan said, describing the conflict as “unlawful, meaningless and illegitimate” and calling for its immediate end.
He warned that “as the war drags on, the fire could spread to other countries,” and added that those prolonging the conflict for political survival should remember that “one day, the tide turns.”
Drawing a sharp historical comparison between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Nazi German leader Adolf Hitler, Erdoğan said, “Those who follow Hitler’s path today are acting not only against humanity but also against their own people,” urging the international community to “put a stop to this course” and stressing that Türkiye will “continue to raise its voice for peace.
Amid escalating crises across the region, Erdoğan emphasized that Türkiye’s main agenda is to remain insulated from instability and focus on the well-being of its people.
“Our government is in control of its agenda; no one can impose an agenda on us,” Erdoğan said, dismissing any suggestion of early or snap elections. “Our sole priority is to keep our country away from the fire in our region and improve the livelihood of our nation.”
Erdoğan also underlined Türkiye’s ongoing economic and diplomatic efforts, highlighting the country’s ambition to strengthen its role as a global economic actor and a reliable destination for international investment.
Referring to recent meetings with global business leaders, Erdoğan said Türkiye is increasingly seen as a “safe haven” and “island of stability” in an uncertain global environment.
He noted that diversification policies in energy and supply chains have helped mitigate the impact of regional shocks, including disruptions linked to ongoing conflicts.
Despite global economic volatility, Erdoğan said Türkiye has taken proactive steps to ensure energy security, maintain food supply stability and support key sectors such as tourism and exports.
The president also stressed Ankara’s commitment to peace, warning that prolonged conflicts risk spreading further across the region.
“As Türkiye, we will continue to raise our voice for peace,” Erdoğan said, urging the international community to take stronger action against policies that prolong conflict and instability.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas held a phone call to review the latest developments surrounding the ongoing two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, diplomatic sources said Friday.
According to Turkish Foreign Ministry sources, Fidan and Kallas spoke on the latest situation under the ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.
The two officials also exchanged views on the broader global implications of the temporary truce, the sources said.
The U.S. and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday, brokered by Pakistan, as a step toward a possible broader agreement to halt the conflict on Iran the U.S. and Israel launched on Feb. 28 that has left thousands dead and wounded.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has completed an indictment against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and 34 other officials, accusing them of crimes including genocide, crimes against humanity and torture over a raid on the Gaza-bound Sumud aid flotilla.
Turkish Prosecutors named Netanyahu and 34 other senior political and military figures as suspects for committing genocide, crimes against humanity, torture, looting and unlawful detention.
The case, initiated during the tenure of Justice Minister Akın Gürlek as Istanbul chief prosecutor, has now moved into the judicial phase following the acceptance of the indictment.
According to the prosecution, the operation against the Sumud Flotilla was not an isolated action but a “planned, organized and joint act” carried out at the highest levels of the Israeli state.
The flotilla, described as an international civilian initiative, was transporting humanitarian aid to Gaza when it was intercepted by Israeli forces. Armed personnel boarded the vessels, forcibly stopped their movement and detained civilians on board.
Victims were reportedly taken to Israel, held for a period of time and later deported. Testimonies included in the indictment describe physical violence, degrading treatment and prolonged coercion.
Prosecutors said the acts were systematic, pointing to injuries including fractures and concluding that the treatment amounted to torture under Turkish law.
The indictment also details the seizure of humanitarian aid supplies and personal belongings, which were allegedly taken by force by Israel and not returned, forming the basis for aggravated looting charges. Damage to ship equipment was also cited.
Crucially, prosecutors linked the flotilla raid to broader genocide in Gaza, arguing it forms part of a wider pattern of actions targeting civilians, including deprivation of basic needs and forced displacement.
On that basis, the suspects are charged not only with individual offenses but also under provisions related to crimes against humanity and genocide.
The prosecution emphasized Türkiye’s responsibility to investigate violations of fundamental rights regardless of where they occur, especially when its citizens are affected.
Given that the suspects are abroad, prosecutors requested that the trial proceed under fugitive procedures, allowing the case to move forward in their absence.
Demonstrators gathered in several Turkish cities on Friday to protest a move by Israel’s parliament to introduce the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners, with rallies taking place after Friday prayers and drawing participation from civil society groups, students and local residents.
In the capital, protesters assembled at the courtyard of the Hacı Bayram-ı Veli Mosque following Friday prayers in an event organized by the Palestine Support Platform. Participants condemned the proposed legislation and voiced opposition to Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza.
Speaking on behalf of the platform, board member Muhammed Cihad Çiğdem described the measure as “a clear violation of law” and denounced what he called Israel’s actions in the region. He said the decision to legalize executions for Palestinian detainees amounted to “brutality” and urged greater international awareness and response.
Similar demonstrations were held in other parts of the country, including Zonguldak, Diyarbakır, Şırnak, Niğde, Izmir and Konya. In each location, protesters carried banners and chanted slogans criticizing Israel’s policies and calling for an end to violence in Gaza and across the region.
In the Black Sea province of Zonguldak, students and representatives of nongovernmental organizations gathered at the campus of Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University, where a statement was read condemning what organizers described as escalating aggression. Speaking for the group, Selman Kürklü from the Palestine Support Platform said the violence had extended beyond Palestinian territories, warning of broader regional instability.
In southeastern Diyarbakır, demonstrators convened outside the Ulu Mosque, chanting slogans and calling for international intervention.
In Niğde, a gathering outside a university mosque drew support from local officials and academics, including the city’s mayor and university representatives. Speakers there emphasized the humanitarian impact of ongoing hostilities and criticized what they described as insufficient global response.
Protests in Izmir’s Konak Square and in Konya after Friday prayers echoed similar concerns, with participants condemning both the reported legislation and Israel’s broader military actions in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran.
The demonstrations came amid continued regional tensions following Israel’s offensive in Gaza, launched after the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks, and ongoing exchanges involving Iran and other regional actors. Protest organizers across Türkiye called for increased international pressure to halt violence and prevent further escalation.
The number of Syrians under Türkiye’s temporary protection regime has fallen by nearly 40% over the past five years, dropping from about 3.7 million in 2021 to roughly 2.3 million in 2026, according to official data compiled from migration figures.
The decline of about 1.4 million people reflects a steady reduction in Türkiye’s Syrian refugee population since it peaked in 2021, when arrivals from the Syrian civil war, which began in 2011, reached their highest levels.
Türkiye, which once hosted the world’s largest Syrian refugee community, has seen a gradual decrease in recent years driven largely by voluntary returns and changing conditions in its southern neighbor.
The population fell to about 3.5 million in 2022, 3.2 million in 2023 and 2.9 million in 2024. It stood at roughly 2.35 million at the end of 2025 before declining further in early 2026.
Officials attribute the downward trend primarily to what they describe as voluntary, safe and dignified returns, supported by stabilization efforts in northern Syria and policies aimed at encouraging repatriation.
Türkiye has hosted Syrians fleeing the war under a temporary protection system that allows legal residence and access to essential services without formal refugee status under the 1951 Refugee Convention framework. Authorities say the policy has been implemented in line with humanitarian principles alongside border security measures.
Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi said Türkiye’s approach is being carried out “within the framework of humanitarian values and international law,” adding that return policies are implemented in line with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s directives.
“In line with the instructions of our President, we are carefully and resolutely taking steps that will contribute to our Syrian brothers and sisters living in peace and security in their own lands,” Çiftçi said in remarks to Anadolu Agency (AA).
He added that Türkiye supports broader reconstruction efforts inside Syria. “We support the ongoing efforts for revival, reconstruction, and normalization of life,” he said, noting that such developments help enable what he described as a more orderly return process.
Changing conditions in Syria
Government statements highlight infrastructure projects, humanitarian assistance and housing construction across the Syrian border as key elements enabling returns. These efforts, officials say, have helped support resettlement in areas cleared of armed groups and improve living conditions inside Syria.
According to official figures, about 1.39 million Syrians have returned from Türkiye to Syria between 2016 and April 2026. Of those, more than 650,000 returned between December 2024 and April 2026, following the collapse of Syria’s long-ruling Baath regime in December 2024.
Officials describe the return process as coordinated and carefully managed. Çiftçi said the government’s priority is ensuring that returns are conducted in an orderly manner, adding that authorities are working “with an understanding that centers human dignity.”
Interior officials say returns are managed through coordination between security agencies and administrative bodies to ensure updated records and controlled border crossings.
Demographics
The Syrian population under temporary protection in Türkiye remains broadly split between genders, with about 1.18 million men and 1.11 million women. The largest age group is adults aged 18 to 64, totaling about 1.17 million people.
Regionally, Istanbul hosts the largest Syrian population with about 405,000 registered individuals, followed by Gaziantep and Şanlıurfa. The smallest registered population is in Hakkari, with just eight Syrians. Tunceli and Bayburt are also among the provinces with the lowest numbers.
Policy shifts, future outlook
Authorities have recently adjusted policies affecting Syrians under temporary protection, including ending eligibility for free health care coverage for new cases as of Jan. 1. Officials say the changes are part of broader planning related to long-term migration management and return strategies.
Turkish officials have also indicated that the temporary protection system may gradually transition toward a residence permit-based framework. Under such a system, Syrians would be required to meet conditions such as housing arrangements, employment status, financial means and health insurance coverage.
Government representatives note that similar policy transitions have taken place in parts of Europe, while emphasizing that Türkiye’s approach has been more gradual due to the scale of its Syrian population.
Authorities have also signaled that financial incentives for returnees may be expanded, including support linked to international funding mechanisms.
Despite the sustained decline, Türkiye continues to host one of the largest Syrian communities in the world. The Syrian war, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions since 2011, forced about 5 million people into neighboring countries, with Türkiye receiving the largest share.
Officials say further returns are expected in the coming period as conditions inside Syria evolve and reconstruction efforts continue, while stressing that participation in return programs remains voluntary.
Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry called on the international community to act against Israel’s approval of 34 new illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, describing the move as a “serious violation” of international law and U.N. resolutions.
In a written statement, the ministry condemned the decision by the government of Benjamin Netanyahu to authorize new settlement construction, warning that it undermines prospects for a two-state solution.
The statement said Israel’s actions further entrench occupation policies and weaken efforts to achieve lasting peace in the region.
Reiterating Ankara’s position, the ministry stressed that the expansion of settlements runs counter to international law and damages the foundations of a viable peace process.
Türkiye also urged the international community to take concrete steps in response to what it described as unlawful initiatives.
Israel has intensified operations in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since launching its military campaign in Gaza on Oct. 8, 2023. Palestinians view the escalation – including killings, arrests, displacement, and settlement expansion – as a step toward formal annexation of the territory.
In a landmark opinion in July 2024, the International Court of Justice declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stressed the need to protect the cease-fire process from disruption and maximize upcoming negotiations for lasting peace during a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
In a call with his Iranian counterpart, Erdoğan highlighted Türkiye’s active diplomatic role in helping pave the way for the cease-fire, noting that Ankara worked closely with relevant countries throughout the process.
He emphasized that the upcoming negotiations present a critical opportunity to achieve permanent peace and stability, warning that efforts to undermine the process must not be allowed to succeed.
Erdoğan also reiterated that Türkiye stands ready to continue contributing to the process alongside friendly nations, underlining Ankara’s commitment to regional stability and dialogue.
Expressing condolences for the losses suffered by the Iranian people, Erdoğan said Türkiye’s broader goal is to help establish a new climate of common sense and dialogue across the region.
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