The increasing concerns in Ankara after the Israeli attack in Doha, Qatar, against Hamas activists led to fears that the next target of Tel Aviv's attacks will be a site in Turkey. Not only because Hamas fighters are undoubtedly residing on Turkish territory and not since yesterday, but also because Erdogan and the Turkish government consider the so-called Palestinian issue a priority in the country's foreign policy.
The connection with ambitions for a role and influence in the Middle East has been maintained consistently for years, and what is happening in Gaza is a topic that is not only the country's elite, but also the entire Turkish society. Moreover, regarding Qatar, at the meeting these days in Doha of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Erdogan stated that “Turkey always stands by its friendly and brotherly ally Qatar”. Not only an ally and generous investor for Ankara, but also a country where a large Turkish military base is located. It is impossible for Erdogan not to attend this extraordinary summit and not to make a comprehensive statement in which he emphasizes that “Turkey is ready to share its capacity in the defense industry with Islamic countries”. He adds “Israel will not give in without a strong response and the imposition of sanctions”, but its goal is actually “to fail the negotiations”.
This conclusion is also shared by the Qatari Emir Sheikh Thani, who is convinced that “Israel dreams of turning the Arab region into its sphere of influence and does not want the release of the hostages, and the leading goal is only to fail the negotiations on Gaza”. His call is “to take practical steps against the bloody state of Israel”. The fact is that politics in the world today are more “shadow battles” i.e. behind the scenes solving contradictions and problems. Balancing on the razor's edge, so as not to undermine your dependence on the US and at the same time to preserve the face of Arab solidarity by supporting the Palestinian people, is proving to be a difficult feat even for the Persian Gulf monarchies.
Not to mention Erdogan's Turkey with its flexible and experienced diplomacy.
Yet at the Doha meeting, Erdogan stated that “It is now undeniable that the main goal of the Netanyahu government is to continue the genocide in Palestine while at the same time indiscriminately destabilizing the entire region. We are faced with a terrorist mentality that feeds on chaos and bloodshed and a state that embodies it. It survives and its crimes go unpunished”. The continuation is that “recently we see some arrogant Israeli politicians repeating the fallacy of “Greater Israel”, while efforts are directed at expanding the occupation in neighboring countries”.
Of course, the participants in the summit, including Erdogan, evaluate the recognition of the state of Palestine by a number of countries as a positive step, but they are clearly not convinced that a result for resolving the Palestinian issue in this way will not be achieved. Concrete and strong sanctions against Israel were needed, including economic pressure. Turkey stopped trade deals with Israel, and this led to a loss of nearly $10 billion.
Far more specific in his statements in Doha, where he is also a participant in the summit, is the Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. He told Al Jazeera and Qatar TV that "the biggest problem in the region right now is Israeli expansionism, and the reasons are twofold - the first is to expand the territory of Israel and create a Greater Israel, and the second is to leave the countries in the region weak and ineffective, especially those neighboring Israel". A kind of dividing them. Fidan recalls Netanyahu's statement that "he will carry out the same operation as the one in Qatar against countries that provide living space for Hamas".
Recognition of Turkey immediately follows, but the question remains unanswered whether Washington will defend Ankara in such a case in the event of an attack by Tel Aviv on Turkish territory. Erdogan always speaks of Trump as a "friend", and he also emphasizes without hesitation about "Turkey's excellent relations with the US". The relations were "special". But there is one exception - the issue of Israel and Palestine. Well, the so-called Kurdish issue is omitted, but now is not the time. The opinion of both Fidan and Erdogan is that “this US position costs Washington credibility in the region”. A situation was created in which America's friends in the Middle East were disappointed and Washington was left in a difficult situation.
It goes so far as to use expressions like "the US policy towards Israel has a profound impact on regional and global security, which could lead to collapse". Fidan is convinced that "the American political system has its own internal dead ends in taking action and we must accept this". Understanding, but also emphasizing that "Turkey is a country that claims influence in this region, a country on which the Islamic world has placed its hopes". However, Israel's aggression is approaching the borders of Turkey, "the sanctuary of the holy sanctuary" and then, if there is an attack, will NATO protect us? Another question is whether it is being played again or whether these are cards that Ankara is pulling out of its sleeve to achieve its goals not only in the region.
In fact, at the meeting in Doha, which was attended by 60 leaders of Arab and Islamic countries, Israel's attack on Qatar was condemned in the most categorical way and the need to oppose and fight the new plans in the region was emphasized. Redrawing borders. A 25-point joint declaration against Israel was issued, stating that “the attack is against all Arab and Islamic countries”, Qatar and the sovereignty of the countries are supported, it is assessed that Israel's attack ”prevents the continuation of existing agreements” /in Doha there were proposals to cancel the Abraham Accords with Israel supported by the US/, threatens security in the region, etc. But according to “The New York Times” Israel is unlikely to be impressed by this declaration and the meeting in Doha itself.
Because there is no danger of a military response to Israel, and the countries have maintained a position not to disturb the fragile balance with dependence on the US. Egypt and Jordan, for example, who in Doha talk about “crossing the red line by Israel” and criticize its actions in Qatar, have been receiving several billion dollars from the US for years so that they do not take action against Tel Aviv. There is only talk of reducing diplomatic and trade relations with Israel, i.e. the declaration only mentions “legal and effective measures to prevent Israel from continuing actions against the Palestinian people”, but somehow not to disturb the domestic political agenda of the monarchies, not to provoke the US. At least that is the opinion of the “New York Times”.
Washington is behind the scenes, and Secretary of State Rubio, after a visit to Tel Aviv, joins the interlocutors in Doha, but the conclusion is that “he has not received assurances that Israel will not attack Qatar again”. It seems that they have not managed to destroy the Hamas leaders in Doha and new attacks will be necessary. Despite the fact that Trump has already stated that “Qatar will not be attacked again”. While the Arab countries really need guarantees to deter Netanyahu.
And they are having a hard time hiding their shock that Washington has not shown any willingness to stop Israel. On the contrary, Rubio says, “Washington supports the ground operation in Gaza, but expects it to be carried out quickly and to be completed as soon as possible”. And Trump points out that “we won't interfere with them, just let them finish faster”. Otherwise, Israel would make its own decisions. As the saying goes, Washington “neither ate an onion nor smelled an onion”.
At the same time, Netanyahu claims that China and Qatar are trying to impose a political siege on his country through social media. At an event in West Jerusalem, where the Israeli Foreign Ministry is hosting 250 politicians representing the American states, Netanyahu explains that “China and Qatar are waging a siege campaign aimed at undermining the support of their allies through the Western press”. Israel would counter “with its own methods”. “The US is on our side, but we have a problem with some in Western Europe, but we will deal with the siege”.
So the Israeli problem is an American problem? So other US allies do not have such privileged relations with the US? Do they not have effective relations? The sensitivity of countries dependent on the US is growing with increased anxiety and more and more questions being asked. Without answers, of course. And Trump is not having it easy. The main question, however, remains what will happen to Gaza? Israel's military operation is underway. It is coming.