Hakan Fidan, the Foreign Minister of Turkey, has accused Israel of using security concerns as a pretext to pursue territorial expansion, remarks he made during the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.
Fidan said Israel was not acting solely in self-defence and argued that security was being used by the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as justification for expanding control over additional territory.
Speaking in English during a panel discussion, he said Israel had created an international perception of acting purely in self-defence, which he described as an “illusion.” He added that recent developments indicated a broader strategy beyond defensive action.
He referred to territories including Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, as well as areas in Lebanon and Syria, suggesting that Israel was pursuing a pattern of continued military presence and expansion in the region. He called for an end to what he described as this approach, stressing that regional peace required respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Fidan said lasting stability in the region depended on all countries being allowed to ensure their own security and freedom without the use of force against others.
Tensions between Turkey and Israel have increased since the start of the Gaza conflict following the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas. Turkey has been a vocal critic of Israel’s military operations and has participated in diplomatic efforts alongside countries such as Pakistan and Egypt aimed at reducing regional escalation during broader Middle East tensions.
Fidan’s comments come amid continued diplomatic exchanges between Ankara and Tel Aviv, which have seen repeated exchanges of criticism. Earlier statements by Israeli leadership targeting Turkey prompted responses from the Turkish foreign ministry, which rejected the remarks and defended its position on regional developments.
In previous comments, Fidan has also suggested that Israel seeks to frame new regional adversaries and expand its geopolitical tensions beyond the current conflict zones.
The Israeli government has not issued an immediate response to the latest remarks.