Israeli foreign minister

Israel

Katz has issued a stark warning to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, cautioning that

Erdogan

could face a fate similar to that of former Iraqi leader

Saddam Hussein

if he intervenes in the ongoing

Gaza conflict

. Katz’s comments come amid heightened tensions between Israel and

Turkey

over the Israeli Defense Forces’ (IDF) military operations in Gaza and rising hostilities with Hezbollah, the Lebanese-based armed group.

As per a Russia Today report, at a rally in his hometown of Rize, Erdogan suggested that Turkey could “enter” Israel to assist Palestinians. He emphasized, “We must be very strong so that Israel can’t do these ridiculous things to Palestine.” Erdogan has previously likened Israel’s actions in Gaza to those of Nazi Germany and compared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler.
In response, Katz took to X (formerly Twitter) with a strong retort, saying, “Erdogan is going down the path of Saddam Hussein and threatens to attack Israel. He should just remember what happened there and how that ended.” Katz’s remarks draw a parallel between Erdogan’s current stance and Saddam Hussein’s downfall, which culminated in his execution by a US-backed coalition.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid also criticized Erdogan, labeling him a “danger to the Middle East” and a “wannabe dictator.” Lapid called on the international community, particularly NATO members, to condemn Erdogan’s threats against Israel and to pressure him to cease his support for Hamas.

The historical context of Katz’s warning refers to Saddam Hussein’s overthrow during the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. Following his capture by US forces, Hussein was tried by an Iraqi court for crimes against humanity and executed by hanging in 2006. The US invasion, justified at the time by claims of Hussein’s connections to Al-Qaeda and possession of weapons of mass destruction, later proved to be based on false premises, leading to widespread controversy over the legitimacy of the military action.
As the situation develops, the international community watches closely, with Erdogan’s provocative statements and the Israeli government’s stern responses adding to the already volatile Middle Eastern landscape.