Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu stated that the idea of Israel leasing Greek islands in the Aegean and settling its citizens there is the product of a “flawed” mindset, adding, “In my personal view, I consider this to be a repetition of the occupation project of Palestine.”

In his remarks to an AA correspondent, Ertuğruloğlu emphasised that the view recently voiced in Israel, regarding leasing islands in the Aegean Sea belonging to Greece and settling a Jewish population there, aims to encircle both Türkiye and the TRNC.

Ertuğruloğlu also drew attention to the relations between the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus and Israel, noting that Israel aims to expand towards the Aegean islands following Southern Cyprus, he further stated that we are confronted with a “pathological mindset” driven by ambitions of encirclement. Expressing his personal opinion that such a move by Israel should be considered a casus belli, Ertuğruloğlu said, “In my personal view, I consider this to be a repetition of the occupation project of Palestine. The mentality of the early 1900s is re-emerging. They harbour ambitions to seize Cyprus and the islands in the Aegean.”