Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sharply rebuked Netanyahu’s misrepresentation of Turkey’s Middle East peace diplomacy as an effort to “revive a colonialist and antisemitic Ottoman Empire” through a distorted historical lens, and his veiled threats against Turkey under the pretext of regional threats like Iran.
“NO ONE SHOULD DARE TEST OUR PATIENCE”
Turkey is not just any country; no one should attempt to test or challenge our patience. We have no eyes on anyone’s land. We have no interest in the treasures above or beneath anyone’s soil. Our only desire and goal in the region is peace, stability, and tranquility. We seek cooperation, stability, and security in the Middle East. Whatever our own citizens want, we want the same for everyone in the region.
“WE WILL RESPOND TO ANY ATTACK AGAINST US WITH THE FORCE IT DESERVES; NO ONE NEEDS TO WORRY”
There are no losers in a just and sustainable peace. We sincerely strive for peace, but against every attack on us, we will respond to the aggressor with the strength inherited from our ancestors. This nation knows the power of its state. This nation knows what it can achieve when united as one heart and one fist. It also knows how the People’s Alliance will keep Turkey peaceful. No one needs to worry.
Our struggle to stop Israeli aggression will continue. Our efforts to promote peace in the region will intensify. Against any internal or external attack on Turkey, our people will find their strength, and our government will show its iron will against the aggressors.
“Netanyahu has long surpassed the cruel Hitler in the crime of genocide.”
The ongoing Israeli occupation and massacre policies in Palestine have taken on a new, horrific dimension following October 7, 2023, escalating into mass slaughter, collective punishment, and ultimately genocide. Over the past 620 days, more than 55,000 innocent Gazans—mostly women and children—have lost their lives. Over 128,000 of our brothers and sisters have been wounded.
Israel’s attacks have now reached an even more horrific and barbaric level. In Gaza, where 80% of buildings lie in ruins, two million innocent civilians struggling to survive have been condemned to total hunger, thirst, and lack of medicine. As if this were not enough, Israel is shooting and bombing those gathered at aid distribution points. Every day, hundreds of people writhing from starvation are mercilessly shot and killed. To be very clear: The most horrific photos and videos from World War II pale in comparison to the images coming from Gaza today. During the Holocaust in Europe, there were no images as shocking, as cruel, as inhumane, or as devoid of conscience as those emerging now from Gaza. Netanyahu has already surpassed the cruel Hitler in the crime of genocide.
We hope their end will not be the same. God willing, one day this man will be brought before an international, independent court and held accountable here in this world for these crimes and massacres, rather than in the hereafter.
“Iran’s Right to Self-Defense Is Legitimate”
While Israel commits genocide in Gaza, it simultaneously attacks Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen, killing civilians there. It assaults civilian settlements daily in the West Bank, killing innocent people and gradually occupying those lands. If all this were not enough, Israel has expanded its lawless and reckless behavior by attacking targets inside Iran and carrying out assassinations within the country. Let me be clear from the start: Iran’s right to defend itself against this lawlessness, this state terror, and this banditry is entirely natural, legitimate, and lawful.
Iran has been openly attacked by a country that disregards law, rules, and principles—a spoiled, reckless, and unrestrained country. Furthermore, these attacks were carried out while Iran’s nuclear negotiations were ongoing. Israel, a country that possesses nuclear weapons and disregards international rules concerning nuclear activities, carried out these terror acts without waiting for the negotiations to end or the results to be finalized. Unfortunately, the international community, including the United Nations and many states, remains silent, even openly supporting this banditry. While a shameful tableau of human tragedy unfolds in Gaza for 625 days, those who remain silent now as the fire rapidly spreads across our region are enveloped in deep silence.
I repeat: Silence in the face of this aggression, lawlessness, state terror, and banditry means consent to what is happening. The blood of the slaughtered civilians stains not only Netanyahu’s hands and forehead, not only those of Zionists supporting him, but also the hands, foreheads, and—if they have one—the consciences of all who remain silent, indifferent, or unresponsive.
We are doing everything in our power, and will continue patiently doing so, to end this inhumane aggression in Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, and our neighboring Iran.
“We Stand for Justice, Dialogue, and Diplomacy, Not Conflict and Oppression”
Everyone should know one thing clearly: We are not running a corner store. We govern one of the world’s largest countries—the Republic of Turkey. Our state experience, historical depth, and the centuries-long accumulation of our nation are our greatest references in managing this process. The responsibility of governance does not tolerate empty rhetoric, fanaticism, or polemics. We do not heed provocations from those who until recently shamelessly served as voluntary lawyers for Israel and labeled Hamas a terrorist organization without shame or hesitation. Those who mercilessly criticized us for highlighting Israel’s increasing aggression during the opening speech of the Parliament owe us an apology if they have even a shred of self-respect. We determine the steps we take and will take not according to the advice of these visionless critics who cannot even see what is right in front of them, but with the state seriousness befitting the Republic of Turkey. We are not on the side of conflict, violence, or oppression; we are on the side of justice, fairness, dialogue, and diplomacy.
“We Have Prepared for Every Scenario”
As with other conflicts over the past 23 years, we closely monitor Israel’s terror attacks against Iran. All our institutions and relevant personnel are on high alert regarding possible effects on Turkey. We have prepared for every possible negative outcome and scenario and continue to do so.
“The Principle of Being Ready for War to Maintain Peace”
Events have revealed one more truth. The victorious army of the Ottoman world empire had a principle: “Be ready for war if you want peace.” If you want independence, freedom, to live on this land with honor, dignity, and pride, if you want economic prosperity, abundance, order, and peace, you must always be ready for war. If you are not prepared for this, then you will suffer what we have endured for the past 100 or 150 years. Without deterrent power, you become vulnerable to internal operations. If your home front is breached, you cannot stand firm in this region.
Until the recent AK Party administrations, this country could not produce its own weapons or defense systems. Was this due to lack of resources? No, there were resources. Was it due to lack of human capital? No, there was talent. So what was missing? Willpower, courage, and insight were missing. There was no love for independence and freedom. We were told “You will not produce,” so we did not produce. We were told “Know your place,” so we obeyed the limits. We were told “Do not step beyond the role assigned,” so we did not step out. Let me be frank: It was not easy for us to break this cowardice, hesitation, lack of will, and especially this betrayal.
“We Broke the Chains Bound to Our Will”
Thanks be to God, we have overcome all obstacles. We have broken one by one the chains bound to our will. We have ended the learned helplessness, thank God. Above all else, we have instilled confidence and courage into this country and nation. Over the past 23 years, especially in defense industry, we have written a great epic. We have achieved a dazzling momentum in defense exports. From air defense systems to warships, anti-tank weapons to torpedoes, cruise missiles to electronic warfare systems, UAVs and armed drones to tanks, artillery, and helicopters, we have realized a wide range of national projects. We have fully opened the way for our defense sector with the support and incentives provided.
“No One Will Dare to Attack Us”
Through the National Technology Initiative, we have made investing in defense industry, developing products, and turning innovative ideas into practice attractive. Today, I can say with peace of mind: Turkey is now a country that protects its skies with local and national air defense systems and possesses an integrated and layered defense architecture. We value the level we have reached after overcoming many obstacles but do not find it sufficient. We must become even stronger and more deterrent. As I expressed after the cabinet meeting, we will raise our deterrence to such a level that no one will even dare to attack us.
Thanks be to God, we have raised our local and national production rate from 20% to 80%, and we will push it even higher. Let us seriously consider this: This country once could not produce even a pin. Now we have our UAVs, armed drones, Akıncı drones—all of them. And have we seriously started exporting? Yes, we have. Until we achieve full independence in defense industry, we will continue with patience, determination, perseverance, and steady steps.
