Erdogan's Rhetoric on Gaza: New Policy or Muslim Romanticism

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been fiery and impactful in recent days with his bold, precise, and unambiguous statements regarding Israel's aggression on Gaza. Erdogan, unlike any other leader of Muslim countries in recent decades, defies Western hypocrisy and calls the new wave of violence in Palestine by its true name on the world stage.

Although his statements evoke genuine enthusiasm among the outraged, disenfranchised, and silenced Muslims around the world, many warn that concrete political consequences are felt most strongly on the internal political scene in Turkey.

BH News Agency Patria (NAP) analyzes the consequences and circumstances of Erdogan's open stance towards Israel, which the world first encountered in Davos in 2009, when Erdogan directly told Shimon Peres what he thought to his face and left the gathering.

The latest series of Erdogan's statements calling Israel a criminal, terrorist state, worse than Nazis and Hitler, and accusing them of systematic genocide in Palestine comes at a time of new aggression on Gaza, but also amidst a campaign ahead of elections in Turkey. Strengthening Turkey's foreign policy role brings Erdogan the votes of millions of Turks who, like most Muslims in the world, have a special sense of empathy for the fate of the Palestinians.

However, many warn that this strong rhetoric is still not matched by concrete political or diplomatic initiatives that would benefit Palestinians in their struggle for their state, defense of territory, lives, and human rights. Turkey, like other predominantly Muslim countries, has a set of different political tools at its disposal to strengthen the position of Palestinians, exert pressure on Israel, and thus enable a political solution.

Erdogan's messages, indeed, as never before, restore a sense of importance and dignity to Muslims around the world, especially Turks. For decades, Muslims have not had a statesman on the world stage with the strength and courage to say what Muslims think. Especially when it comes to a politician from a country with an booming economy, over 70 million inhabitants, and an invaluably important strategic position, it is understandable why Erdogan's statements attract unprecedented attention and interest.

In a way, Erdogan's messages become a vent through which the accumulated frustration and resentment of Muslims is released, not only due to the killings in Gaza but also due to a general sense of oppression. In a way, for many, they evoke a sense of cleansing of conscience.

However, how much they truly benefit and improve the situation for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank is another question entirely.

Their political representatives would probably prefer to see substantial financial or military aid rather than hear strong messages and rhetoric. Just as we in Bosnia and Herzegovina, during the aggression, most valued countries that were willing to violate the international embargo and supply weapons to the defenders of BiH, and provide direct financial and diplomatic support.

Admittedly, the resolute and tough stance of the Turkish Prime Minister contributes to the growing understanding in the international community about the factual situation in Palestine and increases pressure on Israel to stop the violent expansion of territory. A part of the world public is condemning this aggression much more strongly and clearly than all previous ones.

Whether, and to what extent, this will truly help the decades-long efforts of the Palestinians to establish life in the crippled territory of their state and be able to defend themselves and their rights will be shown by time, reports NAP. Until then, it seems the rhetoric helps everyone more than them. However, even this effect of Prime Minister Erdogan's messages should not be underestimated.