The Israeli newspaper Haaretz has warned that the occupation may be preparing to open a new and far more dangerous front after its assault on Doha. The report suggested that Turkey could become the next target—an escalation it described as carrying potentially “catastrophic consequences.”
In an article titled “Turkey May Be Israel’s Next Target After Qatar—The Consequences Are Catastrophic,” the paper linked the strike on Doha with a recent Shin Bet announcement claiming to have foiled an alleged Hamas plot to assassinate extremist minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, supposedly planned from Turkish soil.
Ankara in the Crosshairs
Although Ankara has firmly denied any connection, the article noted that Israel “may consider targeting Hamas offices in Istanbul,” which it describes as a hub for coordination and financing allegedly protected politically by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Haaretz stressed, however, that any confrontation with Turkey would be radically different from striking Qatar. Turkey possesses the second-largest army in NATO, alongside significant influence in Syria, Libya, and the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as full NATO membership. An attack on Turkey, the paper warned, would mark a dangerous shift from a limited conflict into a wide-scale regional confrontation.
A Strategic Disaster in the Making
The report described such a scenario as a “strategic disaster” for Israel. Not only would it cost Tel Aviv crucial Western support, but it could also ignite complex new fronts threatening regional stability—especially in light of Erdoğan’s strong condemnation of the strike on Qatar, which he called a violation of international law, while reaffirming Turkey’s solidarity with the Palestinian people.
The Times of Israel further reported that Tel Aviv had previously postponed a similar operation against Hamas in Turkey due to the sensitivities of Ankara’s NATO membership—choosing instead to strike Qatar. But internal political pressure, the paper noted, could push Netanyahu toward a new gamble.
Collapsing Relations with Ankara
Relations between Israel and Turkey have been deteriorating since October 2023, reaching their lowest point in August 2025 when Ankara closed its airspace to Israeli aircraft and severed economic ties. The move came in direct protest against Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s remarks denouncing Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide.
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