Israeli defense minister challenges Turkey amid Gaza operation

On September 17, 2026, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz escalated diplomatic tensions by publicly suggesting that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan host Hamas members in the resort city of Antalya. Katz, referencing the October 7, 2023, attack that killed over 1,200 people, stated that Israel intends to pursue its security goals in Gaza until the threat is neutralized. He sarcastically remarked that the absence of Israeli tourists in Antalya has created plenty of space for such relocation.

In related developments, Katz cited a Jerusalem Media and Communications Centre (JMCC) poll indicating that support for armed struggle among Palestinians in Gaza has fallen to 9.7%, with 55.8% favoring peaceful negotiations. Meanwhile, domestic political pressures mount in Israel ahead of legislative elections in late October. Opposition figures, including Ofer Winter of the Amcha Yisrael party, have criticized the government's military progress, questioning why Hamas brigades remain active in Rafah despite three years of war and the displacement of much of the population. Israel continues to maintain its military campaign, asserting that it has already cleared 70% of Gaza as part of its strategy to dismantle Hamas infrastructure.