22 | February | 2026 | RUTHFULLY YOURS

ruthfullyyours.com · Feb 22, 2026 · Collected from GDELT

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https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22292/erdogan-sunni-noose-encircle-israel Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has launched an ambitious diplomatic offensive aimed at unifying the Sunni world under Ankara’s leadership. The objective is not merely reconciliation with former rivals. It is the construction of a Sunni diplomatic and strategic “wall,” or “noose,” around Israel, replacing the Iranian “Shi’ite crescent” with a new configuration of Sunni power. The Turkish-Saudi reconciliation is particularly significant. Following years of tension after the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul, Ankara and Riyadh have now moved decisively toward strategic cooperation. Turkish and Saudi officials increasingly frame Israel as a destabilizing actor in these theaters. The emerging partnership is not merely economic; it reflects coordinated positioning against perceived external threats, with Israel explicitly cited. Turkey and Egypt have now signed a $350 million military framework agreement covering joint weapons production, intelligence sharing, and military exercises. Turkish air defense systems and munitions are slated for delivery, and bilateral trade is projected to reach $15 billion. As the guardian of the Suez Canal and a dominant actor in North Africa, Egypt provides logistical leverage capable of influencing maritime routes critical to Israel’s economy. On February 9, 2026, the foreign ministers of Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates issued a joint communiqué condemning what they called “Israeli expansionist policies in occupied territories” and calling for Islamic unity. Some analysts describe an emerging “Sunni axis,” or noose, influenced by Muslim Brotherhood ideology; backed by Turkish military power, financed by Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and designed, by expanding into Gaza, to encircle and finish off Israel. The UAE, under the impressive leadership of Sheikh Mohamed ben Zayed al Nahyan, pursues a technocratic, anti-political Islam agenda that diverges sharply from Erdogan’s ideological sympathies…. Still, the coalition’s ultimate aim, apart from the UAE, unmistakably seems to be “containing” Israel. Recently, Saudi media have featured openly anti-Israel and antisemitic headlines not seen in years. The kingdom appears to be totally aligning itself with anti-Israel countries such as Qatar and Turkey, while “tensions with the UAE explode.” Egypt, Israel’s chilly peace partner since 1979, has reportedly expanded military infrastructure in the Sinai Peninsula in ways that should, under the supposed peace treaty, raise serious questions. Turkish and Egyptian intelligence services are reportedly coordinating efforts to counter rival influences and restrict Israel’s strategic access. Israeli analysts increasingly describe it as the replacement of Iran’s Shiite axis with a Sunni bloc influenced by the Muslim Brotherhood. The coalition presents itself as promoting regional peace. Yet “peace” may translate into the vaporization of Israel, especially should a future Israeli government prove more pliable. Erdogan’s participation in “stabilization” efforts would significantly expand Turkish influence within the emerging Sunni crescent. Ankara’s well-documented support for Muslim Brotherhood networks — which are Hamas’s patrons, ideologically and financially – should raise obvious concerns. Netanyahu’s insistence that Israel determine which international actors, if any, operate in Gaza, serves multiple strategic purposes. It prevents Turkish entrenchment in Gaza, maintains Israeli control over post-war arrangements, and signals to Washington that Israel views Turkish expansionism as a long-term threat transcending personal or political relationships. Whatever the obstacles, Erdogan’s direction seems clear: a militarily and economically anchored Sunni alignment to constrict Israel’s strategic space. While much of the world’s attention remains fixed on Iran and its Shi’ite axis, another geopolitical realignment is taking shape — more quietly, more pragmatically, and potentially just as consequential for the US, Israel and the Middle East. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has launched an ambitious diplomatic offensive aimed at unifying the Sunni world under Ankara’s leadership. The objective is not merely reconciliation with former rivals. It is the construction of a Sunni diplomatic and strategic “wall,” or “noose,” around Israel, replacing the Iranian “Shi’ite crescent” with a new configuration of Sunni power.