Palestine: A Tool for Radicalization in Turkey
The release of four Israeli female hostages, was something I followed through Turkish and Middle Eastern media. Since moving to Israel three years ago, and especially after October 7, I had stopped watching Turkish media’s coverage of Israel-related news. However, I wanted to see how this event was specifically portrayed. These four Israeli women had been subjected to both physical and psychological torture by Hamas for 477 days, forced to speak Arabic, and made to appear in propaganda videos—an undeniable human tragedy. Yet, what I witnessed and heard completely ignored the trauma these women endured and Hamas’s inhumane treatment of hostages, instead framing the event as a “victory” story. This reminded me once again of how the Palestinian issue is instrumentalized in Turkey.
We know that this approach in the Turkish media is directed by groups that want to strengthen political Islam. However, similar reporting by the secular-left media is something I find difficult to make sense of within a logical framework. On one hand, secular-left media avoids criticizing Hamas’s inhumane actions or frames its reporting in a way that aligns with political Islamists, despite their ideological differences. On the other hand, the cause is used as a tool to generate sympathy for jihadist organizations like Hamas, legitimizing actions under the banner of “Palestinian resistance.” Both approaches exploit the Palestinian issue to further their respective narratives, be it to bolster political Islam or to sustain an anti-Israel stance. This attitude is the easiest way to gain sympathy from the Turkish people, and it also stands out as a suitable strategy to gain the support of the right wing.
Opening giant banners declaring Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar as the “greatest teacher” on Teachers’ Day, having the Fatiha recited while hosting Mahmoud Abbas in the secular-based Turkish Parliament, collecting new taxes from Turkish citizens with completely imaginary threats such as “Israel has set its sights on Turkey,” declaring a one-day mourning for Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, raids on chain restaurants such as Starbucks and Burger King, and boycotts implemented for the so-called Palestine cause are just a few examples of how Turkey has systematically radicalized and political Islam has gained power over the Palestinian issue.
In addition, the fact that Palestine support rallies held all over Turkey are increasingly turning into Hamas propaganda, the Palestinian issue is being used as an ideological tool by many political parties and communities, polarizing society even further, “anti-Israel” academic events are being organized at universities while terrorist organizations such as Hamas are being tried to be shown as legitimate, indoctrinating children with hostility towards Israel in schools under the name of “resistance,” the spread of hate speech on social media that goes beyond anti-Semitism, and the increase in threats against Jewish citizens in Turkey are among the most striking indicators of this radicalization.
The purpose of giving these examples is to show how the secular Turkey that we are still trying to protect is rapidly slipping away from us through Palestinian propaganda. If the practices I mentioned above had been carried out under the name of “Palestinian resistance” and not under any other pretext, they would have been met with great reactions throughout the country. However, Palestine has become a perfect cover for political Islam. This situation is not limited to Turkey. Every country in the Middle East that wants to direct its people as it wishes through political Islam and cover up its own crimes and mismanagement uses the Palestinian cause as a tool. The Palestinian issue acts as a curtain to shape the domestic policies of these countries, to divert attention and to increase their legitimacy.
I truly feel sorry for my own people who are subjected to such manipulations. In a country where femicides are increasing every day and women’s rights are constantly being discussed, legitimizing the captivity of four innocent women or spreading the perception that “Hamas took good care of them” clearly reveals the contradictions and erosion of conscience in society. While the fact that Hamas forcibly detained Israeli women and subjected them to physical and psychological torture is ignored, the sympathy shown toward this inhumane treatment under the guise of so-called “resistance” prompts us to question society’s moral standards. In a society that prides itself on advocating for women’s rights, remaining silent or romanticizing such an incident indirectly undermines the broader struggle for women’s human rights. This perception goes far beyond the people being subjected to manipulative ideologies, and damages their sense of empathy and justice. A propaganda mechanism that can even normalize the captivity of women not only fuels anti-Israel sentiment, but also disregards basic human rights. These manipulations on the Palestinian issue should not cause us to set aside our human values.
The use of such a strategic conflict, one that impacts the lives of millions, as an ideological tool not only obscures peace-oriented initiatives but also makes the resolution process even more complicated. As observed, the ongoing pro-Hamas propaganda worldwide not only undermines peace but also negatively affects the freedom and stability of all neighboring countries. These propagandistic efforts provide fertile ground for radical ideologies, sabotaging every attempt to achieve regional stability while eroding universal values such as freedom, justice, and human rights.