Following Friday’s (August 29) announcement that Turkey has closed its airspace and ports to Israel, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reiterated that “Pakistan and Turkey will continue to cooperate against Israel’s genocidal policy” during a meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The latest escalation stems from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s comments on what Turkey refers to as “the events of 1915,” recognized by Israel and other countries as the Armenian Genocide.

Erdoğan, attending the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in China, met Sharif to discuss bilateral ties and regional issues. Erdoğan said Turkey and Pakistan aimed to deepen cooperation across trade, energy, defence, and security sectors. He also welcomed the growing relationship between Pakistan and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, describing Islamabad’s solidarity as “appreciated.” Turning to Gaza, Erdoğan accused Israel of seeking to expand its “policy of genocide” and said Turkey and Pakistan stood together in opposition, pledging continued coordination.

On Friday, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced that Turkey would close its airspace to Israeli government and military-related cargo flights and bar Israeli ships from Turkish ports. Civilian flights remain unaffected. The measure is aimed primarily at preventing the transit of arms and military equipment to Israel. In response, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted a photograph of Erdoğan alongside the late Ismail Haniyeh, former leader of Hamas, with the caption “Turkey = Hamas.”

Turkey = Hamas pic.twitter.com/qfLsjh3k8m

The move builds on Turkey’s May 2024........

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