ISTANBUL – Former Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has sparked controversy by claiming that Gaza remains part of the Ottoman Empire and its residents are therefore Turkish citizens.
The assertion, rooted in the Ottoman Empire’s historical control of the region, has raised eyebrows and prompted concerns about potential implications for other former Ottoman territories, including Greece, Cyprus, and Israel.
Davutoğlu, who now chairs Turkey’s opposition Future Party, made the remarks in response to a hypothetical scenario involving US control of Gaza. He argued that Turkey, as the successor state to the Ottoman Empire, should assume control instead. His rationale hinges on the claim that neither the British Mandate authorities nor Israel granted citizenship to Gazans, leaving Turkey as the legitimate authority.
The former prime minister proposed holding a referendum in Gaza to affirm Turkish citizenship and suggested establishing the territory as an autonomous region of Turkey until a Palestinian state is formed.
This statement has fueled concerns in the region, particularly in Israel. Analysts fear that if Turkey were to act on this claim and assert sovereignty over Gaza, it could use the territory as a base for operations against Israel, similar to how some Gazan factions have operated since Israel’s withdrawal in 2005.
Davutoğlu’s comments have yet to elicit official responses from the Turkish government, the Palestinian Authority, or the governments of Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. However, the statement is likely to further complicate the already tense geopolitical landscape in the region.