Several Israeli security officials have expressed concern that the intensifying political rhetoric from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz against Türkiye could trigger an unnecessary regional escalation. According to reports from Israeli Channel 12 on Friday, these officials are cautioning against pushing the ongoing dispute with Ankara toward a broader public confrontation, particularly as the Netanyahu administration ramps up its campaign rhetoric ahead of the Knesset elections scheduled for October 27.
The broadcaster indicated that Netanyahu and his Likud party have increasingly utilized Türkiye and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as focal points in their electioneering. Internal divisions have surfaced regarding military operations, specifically regarding an attack on the Abu al-Duhur military airbase in northwestern Syria early Tuesday morning, which is located approximately 70 kilometres from the Turkish border. While the Israeli military pushed for the strike, some security officials reportedly preferred to keep the operation out of the public spotlight to avoid provoking a direct confrontation with Ankara. These officials also expressed disapproval of the sharp public statements issued by Netanyahu and Katz following the attack.
International pushback against these actions has also intensified. On Friday, the foreign ministers of Türkiye, Algeria, Indonesia, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Somalia issued a joint statement condemning the Israeli attacks as a flagrant violation of Syria's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political unity.
Furthermore, Türkiye has taken formal legal steps, requesting Interpol red notices for Netanyahu and other defendants involved in the attack on activists aboard the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla. Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurlek stated via the social media platform NSosyal that judicial proceedings are currently underway at Istanbul's 11th High Criminal Court. The case involves 35 defendants, including Netanyahu and Afek Moskovitch, facing charges that include genocide, crimes against humanity, and torture.
