Since the war in Gaza began, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has emerged as a prominent critic of Israel, often denouncing it as a terror state and drawing comparisons to Hitler while expressing support for Hamas.
While most NATO members classify Hamas as a terrorist organization, Turkey does not share this view.
Despite facing criticism from Western quarters for his strong backing of Hamas, recent developments indicate that Erdogan has not fully satisfied his domestic political base.
Following a significant setback in local elections in March, Erdogan's ruling party pledged to reflect on the reasons behind the defeat. Many analysts attributed the electoral loss to not only the struggling Turkish economy but also Erdogan's stance on Israel and the conflict in Gaza.
During the elections, smaller conservative parties like the New Welfare party managed to attract voters by adopting a more hardline approach towards Israel, advocating for concrete actions rather than just fiery rhetoric, which Erdogan is known for.
Political scientist Seda Demiralp from Isik University noted that Erdogan may have underestimated the appeal of the New Welfare party and its ability to mobilize conservative voters through their stance on Israel.
