UPDATE - Deadly pager attacks in Lebanon reflect escalation in Israeli strategy: Turkish foreign minister

UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS

By Dilara Hamit

This week’s deadly pager explosions in Lebanon are part of Israel's broader regional strategy and represent a systematic escalation of the conflict, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned on Thursday.

Speaking at Anadolu's Editor's Desk, Fidan described the explosions – which killed dozens and injured over 3,000 people – as part of a conflict that has been ongoing for about a year.

Israel’s strategy initially focused on the embattled Gaza Strip, where it has killed over 41,000 people since last October, said Fidan, and now appears to be shifting towards Lebanon.

He characterized this week’s attacks as opportunity operations, a term used in intelligence literature to describe such targeted attacks.

Fidan, formerly the head of Türkiye's intelligence agency, said Israel’s ability to access technical and human intelligence on Hezbollah has contributed to the current situation in Lebanon, including the pager attacks and the current conflict brewing along Israel’s border with its northern neighbor.

While Fidan acknowledged that such attacks are not a new concept, he stressed that their large scale and the impact on thousands of people made them significant.

He also mentioned that he had conveyed his best wishes to the Lebanese prime minister and offered Türkiye’s medical support to the people maimed or injured in the attacks, many critically.

Fidan also voiced concern over the escalating nature of Israeli operations, suggesting that they are increasingly provocative, leaving groups like Hezbollah and actors like Iran with little choice but to respond.

He also stressed Türkiye's efforts to boost its cybersecurity awareness and the potential establishment of a new cybersecurity agency, steps that may be especially prudent in the wake of this week’s attacks through wireless devices, which were launched remotely, without a single shot fired.

On the issue of Palestine, Fidan decried the ongoing massacre and “genocide” in Gaza and stressed the need to never allow anything like it to happen again, through efforts for a two-state solution.

Citing previous UN resolutions recognizing Palestine, Fidan highlighted the international community's growing awareness and support for Palestinian statehood, despite ongoing challenges posed by Israel’s continued occupation that undermine prospects for a two-state solution.

- Renewed focus on 2-state solution

Fidan recalled the activities of the contact group formed by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Arab League countries, noting that these activities have occasionally been shared with the public.

"It has played an immense role in bringing back the forgotten definition and dimensions of the Palestinian issue, and in re-prioritizing how to approach the Palestinian issue," he said, mentioning that efforts are being made both to prevent this situation and to work towards a two-state solution to ensure that the Palestinian issue does not recur.

Referring to the UN resolution, Fidan reminded that there had been a resolution recognizing Palestine as a state, accepted by over 150 countries.

"Now we are facing a General Assembly resolution where 124 members have approved a decision by the International Court of Justice that Israel should withdraw from the occupied territories within a year," Fidan said.

He acknowledged that while the Palestinian state has been forgotten, the renewed focus on the two-state solution is positive.

"At this point, there is a significant awareness in the international community. The international community now accepts and stands behind the fact that if Israel is given a state, the Palestinians should be given one as well. Just as Israelis pursue sovereignty and security, Palestinians should also pursue sovereignty and security.

"No one accepts or tolerates a situation where one side is pursuing sovereignty and security while the other side remains oppressed and enslaved. However, it is essential to continuously and loudly emphasize and fight for this issue," Fidan added.

He noted that there is legitimacy in this matter and added: "On the other hand, Netanyahu’s project to completely seize Palestinian territories, started in the early 20th century with Western support, is also ongoing."

- There is real risk of larger war

Reiterating that the massacre and genocide continue, Fidan emphasized that threats against Lebanon persist, and with Iran’s involvement, there is a real risk of a larger war.

He pointed out that these risks are present and that continuous efforts are being made to mitigate them and prioritize solutions.

Fidan mentioned that there is a potential for the risk to escalate from a regional war to an almost global conflict. About his recent visit to Jordan, he noted the country had reached a military alarm level due to events in the West Bank.

"Because Israel will no longer remain silent, Jordanians are now communicating to both their allies and international counterparts. This is alarming. As we consider Lebanon, there is always a risk of a war that could encompass the entire region, including Egypt, and Netanyahu is determined to either halt or advance this situation," he said.

- 'We are only one veto away from Palestinian statehood'

Fidan noted that the international community is currently only one veto away from recognizing Palestinian statehood. He pointed out that nearly 200 countries around the world recognize Palestine, and only the objection of the UN Security Council members remains an obstacle. Fidan mentioned that the legal and international definitions regarding Palestine's statehood have almost been completed, with the exception of the Security Council.

He highlighted that the real issue is not the lack of recognition but rather Israel’s ongoing genocide and occupation, which prevents Palestine from managing its own sovereignty and governance. Fidan criticized Israel for attempting to enforce a de facto situation to undermine the two-state solution, particularly under Netanyahu’s leadership.

- Israel’s actions put its future at risk

Fidan noted that while Israel continues its attacks with the support of the US and Western countries, there must be a will and power to stop these actions.

“The international system needs to come together and stop this before it’s too late. Alternatively, rational voices within Israel must emerge to halt this madness. Why? Because this madness harms not only Palestinians but also jeopardizes the future of Israel and its people," he said.

"This will ensnare you in a cycle of insecurity for decades or even centuries. Rational Israelis see this, but the prevailing fanatic mindset is entirely focused on annihilation and implements a policy designed for complete destruction,” he added.

Fidan criticized the Western perspective on Israel, which has been uncritically supportive and has not considered alternatives. He emphasized that this issue is now being questioned globally, not just by Muslim communities.

The focus is shifting from just seeking justice for Palestine to challenging the broader narrative of oppression and exploitation perpetuated by the international system. He warned that if these unjust policies and narratives are not addressed, their negative consequences will become apparent in various forms.