NextFin news, Devlet Bahçeli, the leader of Turkey's Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), publicly stated on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, that Israel is waging a proxy war against Turkey. He made these remarks amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, particularly concerning Israel's military actions in Gaza and the broader region.
Speaking to TRT News, Bahçeli emphasized that Israel has become the biggest security threat in the region, opposing Turkey's interests in Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, and other areas. He accused Israel of exploiting groups hostile to Turkey and encircling the country through its regional policies.
Bahçeli highlighted that since October 7, 2023, Israel's military operations in Gaza have resulted in over 65,000 deaths and more than 166,000 injuries, describing these attacks as genocidal and violations of international law and United Nations resolutions. He condemned Israel's bombing of a ceasefire negotiation building in Doha on September 9, 2025, as evidence of Israel's unwillingness to pursue peace.
He called on Islamic countries and the United Nations to intervene and prevent further Israeli aggression. Bahçeli urged for a strong ultimatum against Israel, including military options, if diplomatic efforts fail. He also proposed the establishment of a joint defense force among Islamic countries, similar to NATO, to counter Israel's actions.
Bahçeli stressed that the security of Palestine is directly linked to the security of Turkey and criticized the international community, particularly the United States, for double standards and failing to hold Israel accountable. He urged for immediate humanitarian aid access to Gaza and for Israel to withdraw from occupied Palestinian territories unconditionally.
His statements come amid ongoing regional instability and follow a recent extraordinary meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on September 15, 2025, which strongly condemned Israel's actions and called for political and economic sanctions.
Bahçeli's remarks reflect heightened nationalist sentiment within Turkey and signal potential shifts in Turkey's foreign policy stance toward Israel and the broader Middle East conflict.
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