Photo by
Kobi Richter/TPS-IL on 27 December, 2017
Turkish Pro-Government Voices Invoke Israel in Threats to Greece
Jerusalem, 12 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) -- A wave of incendiary commentary in Turkish pro-government media has targeted Greece and the eastern Mediterranean island of Kastellorizo, including explicit calls for military action and unsubstantiated claims involving Israel.
İbrahim Karagül, a columnist for the Islamist, pro-government daily Yeni Şafak, alleged that Greece has transferred “Israeli weapons and Israeli soldiers” to Aegean islands and established missile depots and bases “on Turkey’s borders.” He warned that if Athens were to take similar steps on Kastellorizo, “Turkey must immediately seize the island, without hesitation,” dismissing international law as irrelevant.
In similar rhetoric, Turan Oğuz, described in pro-government outlets as a defense analyst, paraphrased remarks attributed to U.S. President Donald Trump on Greenland to argue that “something must be done on Kastellorizo, whether they like it or not,” claiming—without evidence—that otherwise Russia or China would take control of the island. He also questioned Greek sovereignty based on historical arguments.
By contrast, Yusuf Erim of TRT World dismissed as “fake news” reports that Greece is considering an Israeli proposal for joint use of Kastellorizo, while cautioning that any such move would prompt a “disproportionate and decisive” response.
No official confirmation has been provided for the claims circulated by Turkish commentators. The statements add to heightened rhetoric in the eastern Mediterranean amid ongoing regional tensions.
