Did Turkey Declare War on Israel? Understanding the Heated Rhetoric

Turkey and Israel’s relationship has been turbulent for years with the two countries regularly engaging in fiery rhetoric and threats. This hostile dynamic was on full display again recently when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made comments suggesting Turkey could militarily intervene against Israel over its actions in Gaza.

A War of Words

Erdogan stated in a speech on July 29th, 2024 that “there is no reason” Turkey could not take military action against Israel like it has done in other countries. He referenced Turkey’s interventions in Libya and the Nagorno-Karabakh region as examples This immediately prompted outrage and condemnation from Israeli officials.

Israel’s foreign minister at the time, Israel Katz, accused Erdogan of following in the footsteps of Saddam Hussein with his threats. He ominously warned Erdogan to “remember what happened there and how it ended,” referring to Hussein’s capture and execution. The Turkish foreign ministry responded by comparing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler on social media.

This heated war of words is nothing new. Turkey and Israel have traded insults, outrage, and threats many times over the years, especially during periods of increased tensions like Israel’s military operations in Gaza. Erdogan in particular is known for his fiery anti-Israel stance.

Stopping Short of Declaring War

However, despite the provocative rhetoric, Turkey did not actually declare war on Israel. An outright declaration of war is an official government action that Turkey did not take. The threats were primarily political posturing by Erdogan meant to boost his standing rather than commit to armed conflict.

In fact, Turkey acknowledged it did not have plans to invade Israel. A spokesperson for Turkey’s ruling party stated shortly after Erdogan’s controversial comments that Turkey would not invade Israel itself but would continue advocating for Palestinians.

Additionally, Turkey’s interventions in other countries like Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh did not involve direct Turkish military action against a state like a formal war would entail. The situations were more complex with Turkey providing varying levels of military support.

Strained Relations Over Time

Turkey and Israel have had strained relations for over a decade. Several key events contributed to the steady deterioration of ties between the formerly close allies:

• Israel’s 2008-2009 military offensive in Gaza prompted criticism from Turkey and created the first major rift.

• In 2010, Israeli forces raided a Turkish ship attempting to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza. The incident resulted in the deaths of 10 Turkish citizens and sparked outrage in Turkey.

• Erdogan has frequently criticized Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. His strong rhetoric reached new heights during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza in 2014.

• Turkey expelled Israel’s ambassador in 2018 in protest over Israel’s response to violence in Gaza. The countries still do not have ambassadors stationed in each other’s capitals.

Recent Signs of Possible Reconciliation

Despite the long-standing tensions, there have been some cautious signs of possible reconciliation between Turkey and Israel recently.

• In August 2022, Erdogan and Netanyahu spoke on the phone, the first high-level exchange between the countries since 2013. However, Erdogan’s threats in July 2024 set relations back again.

• Turkey and Israel have reportedly been holding talks focused on restoring full diplomatic relations. But negotiations were said to be moving slowly.

• The countries have strong incentives to rebuild economic ties. Bilateral trade reached $6.7 billion in 2021 before Turkey informally suspended it. Reviving trade could benefit both economies.

So while the headline-grabbing threats grab attention, it appears Turkey and Israel are more likely to continue their delicate dance of hostilities and reconciliation than actually plunge into full-scale war. Unless circumstances drastically change, neither side seems to have the appetite for military conflict regardless of the provocative rhetoric.