Erdogan Says Türkiye Might Enter Israel to Help Palestinians

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan attends a military parade to mark the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus in response to a short-lived Greek-inspired coup, in the Turkish-controlled northern Cyprus, in the divided city of Nicosia, Cyprus July 20, 2024. REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou/ File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan attends a military parade to mark the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus in response to a short-lived Greek-inspired coup, in the Turkish-controlled northern Cyprus, in the divided city of Nicosia, Cyprus July 20, 2024. REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou/ File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
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Erdogan Says Türkiye Might Enter Israel to Help Palestinians

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan attends a military parade to mark the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus in response to a short-lived Greek-inspired coup, in the Turkish-controlled northern Cyprus, in the divided city of Nicosia, Cyprus July 20, 2024. REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou/ File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan attends a military parade to mark the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus in response to a short-lived Greek-inspired coup, in the Turkish-controlled northern Cyprus, in the divided city of Nicosia, Cyprus July 20, 2024. REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou/ File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that his country might enter Israel as it had done in the past in Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh, though he did not spell out what sort of intervention he was suggesting.

Erdogan, who has been a fierce critic of Israel's offensive in Gaza, started discussing that war during a speech praising his country's defense industry.

"We must be very strong so that Israel can't do these ridiculous things to Palestine. Just like we entered Karabakh, just like we entered Libya, we might do similar to them," Erdogan told a meeting of his ruling AK Party in his hometown of Rize.

"There is no reason why we cannot do this ... We must be strong so that we can take these steps," Erdogan added in the televised address, Reuters reported.

AK Party representatives did not respond to calls asking for more detail on Erdogan's comments. Israel did not immediately make any comment.

The president appeared to be referring to past actions by Türkiye.

In 2020, Türkiye sent military personnel to Libya in support of the United Nations-recognized Government of National Accord of Libya.

Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah, who heads the Government of National Unity in Tripoli, is backed by Türkiye.

Türkiyehas denied any direct role in Azerbaijan's military operations in Nagorno-Karabakh, but said last year it was using "all means", including military training and modernisation, to support its close ally.



Harris Raised $200M in 1st Week of Campaign and Signed Up to 170,000 Volunteers

FILE PHOTO: US Vice President Kamala Harris delivers remarks at a campaign event in Pittsfield, Mass., US,  July 27, 2024. Stephanie Scarbrough/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: US Vice President Kamala Harris delivers remarks at a campaign event in Pittsfield, Mass., US, July 27, 2024. Stephanie Scarbrough/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
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Harris Raised $200M in 1st Week of Campaign and Signed Up to 170,000 Volunteers

FILE PHOTO: US Vice President Kamala Harris delivers remarks at a campaign event in Pittsfield, Mass., US,  July 27, 2024. Stephanie Scarbrough/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: US Vice President Kamala Harris delivers remarks at a campaign event in Pittsfield, Mass., US, July 27, 2024. Stephanie Scarbrough/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

US Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign has raised $200 million since she emerged as the likely Democratic presidential nominee last week, an eyepopping haul in her race against the Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump.
The campaign, which announced its latest fundraising total on Sunday, said the bulk of the donations — 66% — comes from first-time contributors in the 2024 election cycle and were made after President Joe Biden announced his exit from the race and endorsed Harris.
Over 170,000 volunteers have also signed up to help the Harris campaign with phone banking, canvassing and other get-out-the-vote efforts. Election Day is 100 days away.
“The momentum and energy for Vice President Harris is real — and so are the fundamentals of this race: this election will be very close and decided by a small number of voters in just a few states,” Michael Tyler, the campaign's communications director, wrote in a memo.
Harris campaigned in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, on Saturday, drawing hundreds to a fundraiser that had been organized when Biden was still at the top of the Democratic ticket. The fundraiser had originally been expected to raise $400,000 but ended bringing in about $1.4 million, according to the campaign.
Harris quickly coalesced Democratic support after Biden, whose candidacy fizzled following his disastrous June 27 debate performance against Trump, exited the race. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, former House Minority Whip Jim Clyburn, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were quick to announce their support.
Prodigious Democratic fundraisers former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama announced their endorsement on Friday.
Harris at her Saturday fundraiser said she remained the “underdog” in the race but that her campaign was picking up steam.

A New York Times/Siena College national poll published Thursday found Harris has narrowed what had been a sizable Trump lead while Trump had a two percentage point lead over her in a Wall Street Journal poll published on Friday. A Reuters/Ipsos poll published on July 23 showed a two point lead for Harris.
Mitch Landrieu, a campaign co-chair, said on MSNBC that Harris "had one of the best weeks that we've seen in politics in the last 50 years".
"This is going to be a very close race," he said.