Turkish FM: Israel trying to 'declare Turkey the new enemy' after Iran

Hakan Fidan says Jerusalem ‘cannot live without an enemy,’ accusing both government and opposition lawmakers of taking part in ‘state strategy’ against Ankara

Israel “cannot live without an enemy” and its government is now trying to portray Turkey as one, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Monday, as tensions between the erstwhile allies continued to escalate.

The dispute between Ankara and Jerusalem — which has ramped up ever since Hamas’s October 7 attack and the subsequent war in Gaza — entered a new phase over the weekend after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned his US counterpart Donald Trump of “possible provocations and sabotage” that could jeopardize an initial ceasefire arrangement in the US-Israeli war with Iran.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Saturday that Israel would continue to confront Tehran and its regional allies, and said the campaign was “not over.”

“After Iran, Israel cannot live without an enemy,” Fidan said in a televised interview with the state‑run Anadolu news agency.

“We see that not only Netanyahu’s administration but also some figures in the opposition — though not all — are seeking to declare Turkey the new enemy,” he said.

“This is a new development in Israel… turning into a state strategy,” he added.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (R) stands with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (L) and Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (C) prior to a meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, January 30, 2026. (Handout / Turkish Presidential Press Service via AFP)

This is not the first time top Turkish officials have suggested that Israel will come after Turkey. In 2024, Erdogan claimed that Israel would eventually “set its sights” on Turkey if it succeeded in defeating Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Erdogan has been one of the most harshly critical foreign leaders of Israel, accusing Jerusalem of genocide and war crimes, praising ICC arrest warrants against Israeli leaders, and calling on the UN to recommend the use of force against Israel.

The longtime Turkish leader has also often expressed support for Hamas as defenders of their homeland, including after the terrorist organization’s October 7 massacre, in which it killed some 1,200 people in Israel, mostly civilians, and took 251 hostages.

On Sunday, Israeli leaders lashed Erdogan after prosecutors in Turkey reportedly filed indictments against 35 top officials, including Netanyahu, seeking a total of more than 4,500 years in prison.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 19, 2023. (Avi Ohayon/GPO)

Netanyahu accused Erdogan of massacring Kurds in his own country, while Defense Minister Israel Katz and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir also responded with posts bashing Erdogan.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry replied to Netanyahu with a statement, calling the Israeli premier “the Hitler of our time.”

Turkey recently joined diplomatic efforts with Egypt and Pakistan to reach a ceasefire in the conflict with Iran.

In January, Trump included Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in his Board of Peace’s Gaza Executive Board. Following the White House announcement, Netanyahu came under fire from across the Israeli political spectrum for being unable to prevent Turkey from gaining a foothold in Gaza through the new panel.