On Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a controversial statement, asserting that Hamas should not be classified as a terrorist organization but rather as “mujahideen” who are defending their homeland. Erdogan delivered this message during a gathering of his AK Party faction in parliament and received a standing ovation from his supporters. In his speech, he emphasized that Turkey’s perspective on Hamas differs from that of the West and Israel, stating, “The West owes you a lot. But Turkey does not owe you anything.”
He further defended his stance by using the term “Mujahideen,” which is an Arabic word referring to individuals engaged in a holy war or jihad. This statement drew a sharp response from Israel’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Lior Haiat, who vehemently rejected Erdogan’s characterization of Hamas. Haiat went as far as to compare Hamas to the extremist group ISIS, referring to them as a “despicable terrorist organization worse than ISIS.”
Erdogan’s position on Hamas has been consistent in recent years, with previous comments defending the group and distinguishing it from other entities considered terrorists. He has criticized Israel for its military campaign against Hamas in response to the violence that erupted on October 7, when a large group of terrorists breached the border into Israel, resulting in casualties and the seizure of hostages.
While Erdogan has been outspoken in his defense of Hamas, he has not officially condemned the organization for its actions against Israeli civilians. In contrast, he has openly labeled the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) as terrorists and authorized military operations against them. This contrasting approach has led to tensions between Turkey and Israel.
Erdogan also announced the cancellation of his plans to visit Israel, citing what he described as Israel’s “inhumane” actions during the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Turkey’s Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, joined in the criticism, accusing Israel of committing “a crime against humanity” in its campaign in Gaza.
Erdogan’s stance on Hamas and his accusations against Israel have strained efforts to improve diplomatic relations between the two countries over the past year and a half. Turkey and Israel were once regional allies, but their relationship deteriorated significantly following the 2010 Israeli commando raid on the Gaza-bound Mavi Marmara ship, which resulted in the deaths of ten Turkish activists. Despite recent attempts to renew diplomatic ties, Erdogan’s continued support for Hamas has complicated efforts to fully mend the relationship.
