The recent conflict between Israel and Hamas has created an opportunity for Turkey and Iran to strengthen their ties, as both nations seek to address long-standing issues.
This development comes as Turkey's stance on the conflict diverges from that of its NATO allies, aligning more closely with Iran and other Middle Eastern nations.
"Compartmentalization has long been the name of the game for the Iran-Turkey relationship under the Islamic Republic and AKP, respectively," said Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. The AKP, or Justice and Development Party, is chaired by Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan.
Taleblu further explained that the two non-Arab Muslim Middle Eastern powers have traditionally competed to champion the Palestinian cause. However, the post-Arab Spring Middle Eastern order has created more opportunities for Turkey, a NATO member, and Iran, a state sponsor of terrorism, to channel their political ire at Israel.
The majority of NATO allies have supported Israel's right to self-defense following the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7. In contrast, Turkey has echoed the stances of other Middle Eastern nations, questioning Israel's actions and defending the Palestinians.
President Erdogan has even defended the Hamas terrorists responsible for the attack, referring to them as "mujahideen," or freedom fighters, "defending their lands." Erdogan has also called for a ceasefire, accusing the West of being "too weak" to do the same, a sentiment shared by many members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Lior Haiat, a spokesperson for the Israeli Foreign Ministry, condemned Erdogan's rhetoric, describing it as "harsh words" about a "terrorist organization," according to the Times of Israel.
This hardline stance has endeared Ankara to Tehran, prompting the two nations to explore a rapprochement, or resumption of harmonious relations. They previously attempted a similar engagement in 2009 and 2010 following incidents with Israel, as reported by Al-Monitor.
"Along with Qatar, Russia, and the U.N., Turkey was a prime target of Iranian diplomatic overtures following the deadly terror attacks that Tehran helped underwrite on Oct. 7," Taleblu said. "The more shocks between Turkey and Israel and the Western bloc, the more confident Tehran feels about the ascendency of its regional message."
The Turkish embassy in Washington, D.C. did not respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
Turkey's role in the conflict has been ambiguous, due to its NATO membership and ties to the United States, contrasted with its support of Hamas. Ankara asked Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh to leave Istanbul following the October 7 attack, fearing it might appear supportive of terrorism. However, Turkey has continued to communicate with Haniyeh and Israel, as reported by Al-Monitor.
In a speech to the Turkish parliament last month, Erdogan criticized Western powers for supporting Israels operation in the Gaza Strip. The Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry claimed that the operation has resulted in over 11,000 Palestinian deaths.
The Biden administration has expressed skepticism about these figures, noting that the ministry does not distinguish between civilian and combatant deaths. Stephan Dujarric, spokesperson for United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told Fox News Digital that the U.N. has found the ministrys numbers "reliable" in the past, but verification will only be possible after the conflict ends.
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