Political Science expert Assist. Prof. Dr. Fehmi Ağca, evaluating the Palestine-Israel tension, stated, “The unshakeable, powerful image of the Israeli state was seriously rattled by Hamas's raid, and an investigation has been launched into MOSSAD, which failed to get prior intelligence about the attack.” Ağca, pointing out that Israel is expected to carry out larger massacre attacks on Gaza, said that the biggest impact of the Hamas raid was raising doubts about Israel's survival. Ağca, stating that Turkey has approached the situation cautiously from the outset, added that Turkey and Egypt could play an active role as mediators.
Assist. Prof. Dr. Fehmi Ağca from Üsküdar University, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Political Science and International Relations (English) Department, made evaluations regarding the Palestine-Israel tension.
Assist. Prof. Dr. Fehmi Ağca recalled that UN General Assembly Resolution 181, adopted on November 29, 1947, envisaged the establishment of two independent states on Palestinian territory, one Arab and the other Jewish, with the end of the British Mandate, and for Jerusalem to be demilitarized and have an international status under the auspices of the UN Trusteeship Council.
The Issue of Israel's Withdrawal from Occupied Territories
Assist. Prof. Dr. Fehmi Ağca, explaining that the Arab-Israeli War erupted upon the establishment of the State of Israel on May 14, 1948, and Israel expanded its territory, with three-quarters of Palestinian lands coming under Israeli control while over 750,000 Palestinians became refugees, and Jordan took control of the West Bank and Egypt took control of Gaza, continued as follows:
“In 1967, Israel also occupied the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza, the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, and the Golan Heights in Syria. Following this, the UN Security Council (UNSC), with Resolution 242, demanded Israel's withdrawal from the occupied territories.
However, Israel is unwilling to withdraw from these lands. In the West Bank, which Israel occupied after the 1967 war, over 500,000 Jewish settlers currently live in approximately 250 illegal Jewish settlements. According to international law, all Jewish settlement units in occupied territories are considered illegal.”
Larger Massacre Attacks by Israel on Gaza Are Expected…
Assist. Prof. Dr. Fehmi Ağca, also reminding that Israel has carried out attacks on the Gaza Strip, controlled by Hamas, which it considers a threat, causing the death and injury of thousands of innocent civilians, stated the following:
“The Palestinian people living in Gaza are trying to resist and survive using their right to self-defense with very limited means. However, against Israel's advanced technology-based armed forces, unconditionally supported by the US, the people of Gaza have not been able to mount an effective response to Israeli attacks so far.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas's armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, seizing some Israeli settlements by paramotor or by breaking through barbed wire and walls. They captured Israeli military bases, tanks, and ammunition. Numerous Israeli soldiers were killed, and some high-ranking Israeli military personnel were taken captive. In response, Israel decided to launch Operation Iron Swords. Israel officially declared war, and the Israeli army began bombing Gaza. Israel is expected to carry out larger massacre attacks on Gaza, which it has kept under blockade for years, abandoning it to hunger, deprivation, and death.
What is the biggest impact of the Hamas raid?
The unshakeable, powerful image of the Israeli state was seriously rattled by Hamas's raid, and an investigation has been launched into MOSSAD, which failed to get prior intelligence about the attack. The biggest impact of the Hamas raid is that it has raised doubts about Israel's survival.”
Turkey Approaches the Situation Cautiously from the Outset
Assist. Prof. Dr. Fehmi Ağca, also drawing attention to the reactions of the international community regarding the Palestine-Israel tension, concluded his remarks as follows:
“While the US and EU are sending messages of support to Israel, Turkey has approached the situation cautiously from the outset. While President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called on the parties to be prudent, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs also initiated rapid diplomatic traffic with third parties. It is also important that Egypt called for restraint.
Turkey and Egypt Can Play an Active Role as Mediators…
The Israel-Palestine issue is one of the biggest obstacles to world peace. Following Hamas's attack, it might prompt Israel to abandon its occupation policies and adopt a policy of peaceful coexistence with the Palestinian people within the framework of the UN's two-state solution. In this context, Turkey and Egypt can jointly play an active role as mediators.
Alternatively, Israel might continue its massacres, as in the past, forcing the Palestinian people into a new migration. This could completely eliminate hopes for peace in the Middle East and pave the way for increased and widespread conflicts between the Israeli state and Palestinian resistance groups.”