Erdogan Links Eid Message to Gaza War, Calls Netanyahu ‘Tyrant’
The Turkish president uses Eid al-Adha message to express solidarity with Gaza and criticise Israel’s military campaign
By Abdullahi Yusuf
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has used Eid al-Adha celebrations to express strong solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and to call for greater unity across the Muslim world, as Israel’s military campaign in the enclave continues to dominate regional tensions.
Marking the Muslim holiday, also known as the Feast of the Sacrifice, Erdogan described Eid as a “spiritual blessing” and said he hoped it would bring “goodness to Türkiye, the Turkish nation, the Islamic world, and humanity as a whole.”
In a message released on Wednesday, he addressed Muslims facing hardship across what he called the “spiritual geography” of the Islamic world, with particular reference to Gaza.
“To all our brothers and sisters who are welcoming this holiday with sadness, pain and deep sorrow in different corners of our spiritual geography, particularly those in Gaza, I extend my strongest messages of solidarity on behalf of myself and my nation, and I congratulate them individually on Eid al-Adha,” he said.
The Turkish president’s remarks came as millions across Türkiye gathered for Eid prayers on the first day of the festival, which commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son in obedience to God before a ram was provided as a substitute.
Speaking separately to journalists at the Camlica Mosque in Istanbul after the morning prayers, Erdogan said religious holidays should serve to reinforce unity, compassion and social solidarity.
“Above all, holidays are days of love, respect, unity, togetherness, and solidarity,” he said.
However, the celebrations were overshadowed by the ongoing war in Gaza, which Erdogan said had cast a “shadow” over Eid festivities for Muslims in Türkiye and beyond.
The Turkish leader also issued a sharply worded criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, describing him as a “tyrant” and voicing support for what he characterised as growing global Muslim opposition to Israel’s conduct in Gaza.
“I also believe that the tyrant known as Netanyahu will learn the necessary lesson at the hands of the world’s Muslims,” Erdogan said.
The comments reflect Türkiye’s continued position as one of the most vocal international critics of Israel’s military operations in Gaza, with Ankara repeatedly calling for an immediate ceasefire, expanded humanitarian access, and increased international pressure on Israel.
Erdogan’s remarks also underline the extent to which the Gaza conflict continues to shape political messaging across the region during major religious observances, with leaders increasingly linking spiritual festivals to broader geopolitical developments.
Eid al-Adha, one of the most significant dates in the Islamic calendar, is observed through prayers, animal sacrifice and the distribution of meat to family members, neighbours and those in need, symbolising sacrifice, obedience and charity.
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