In a recent statement, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Islamic countries to form a unified front against what he referred to as "the growing threat of expansionism" from Israel. Erdogan made these remarks following reports of the alleged killing of a Turkish-American woman by Israeli troops during a protest against settlement expansion in the West Bank.

Speaking at an event organized by an Islamic schools' association near Istanbul, Erdogan emphasized the need for an alliance among Islamic nations to counter what he described as "Israeli arrogance, banditry, and state terrorism." He stated that such an alliance would be the only effective measure to put an end to these actions.

Erdogan also highlighted Turkey's efforts to strengthen ties with other Middle Eastern countries in order to establish a united front against expansionism. He mentioned recent positive steps taken to improve relations with Egypt and Syria, with the aim of solidifying a line of solidarity against the perceived threat.

One significant development in this regard was Erdogan's meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Ankara. During the meeting, the leaders discussed the recent Gaza war and explored ways to further repair the long-frozen ties between the two nations. This visit marked the first presidential visit from Egypt to Turkey in 12 years.

It is worth noting that Turkey's diplomatic efforts to ease tensions with estranged regional rivals, including the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, served as the starting point for the thawing of relations between Turkey and Egypt in 2020.

Furthermore, Erdogan reiterated his willingness to extend an invitation to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for discussions aimed at restoring relations between Turkey and Syria. The two nations had severed ties in 2011 following the outbreak of the Syrian civil war.

In response to Erdogan's statements, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz posted an image on social media depicting Erdogan pouring fire onto a miniature city, with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar present. Katz criticized Erdogan for incitement and accused him of collaborating with Iran to undermine moderate Arab regimes in the Middle East.

The calls for an Islamic alliance against Israel's expansionism have further strained the already tense relations between Turkey and Israel. Erdogan's remarks underscore Turkey's increasingly assertive stance on regional issues, as it seeks to rally countries in the Islamic world against what it perceives as a threat to stability in the region.

It remains to be seen how other Islamic nations will respond to Erdogan's call for an alliance, and whether this will impact the already complex dynamics of the Middle East.

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