A pro-government Turkish newspaper has published controversial claims alleging that Greece is planning to lease islands in the Aegean Sea to Israel, a narrative that has sparked fresh tensions and drawn sharp reactions from officials in Ankara and the occupied north of Cyprus.
The report, featured prominently on the front page of the newspaper Türkiye, frames the alleged move as part of a broader “encirclement” strategy targeting Turkey. It uses highly charged language, describing a supposed Greece–Israel alignment as “dangerous” and “expansionist,” while warning of potential regional escalation.
According to the publication, Israel is allegedly exploring plans to lease or purchase Greek islands for a period of 40 to 50 years, with the aim of developing them into refuges. The report attributes the claims to proposals linked to Israeli political figures and organisations, though neither Athens nor Jerusalem has provided official confirmation.
Officials from the self-declared “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” reacted strongly to the narrative. Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu described the alleged plan as “madness” and warned that such a development could not be viewed in isolation from the Cyprus issue.
“This initiative constitutes a clear cause for war,” he claimed, adding that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leadership would not remain indifferent to any perceived change in the regional balance.
The rhetoric escalated further with suggestions that such a move would justify intervention under international law, alongside warnings of potential military, diplomatic, and political responses.
Turkish commentators and analysts also weighed in, with some suggesting the claims point to a wider strategic alignment between Greece and Israel aimed at countering Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean. Retired naval figures referenced longstanding disputes over the status of Aegean islands, while warning that such developments could increase the risk of a Greek-Turkish confrontation.
Additional commentary published in the report framed the issue in broader geopolitical terms, linking it to energy security, regional alliances, and defence systems. Some voices claimed the alleged plans could involve the expansion of Israeli defence infrastructure across the Aegean, though again, no evidence or official statements have supported these assertions.
Despite the strong rhetoric, neither the Greek nor the Israeli government has confirmed any such initiative.
The claims come amid ongoing tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, where longstanding disputes over maritime zones, airspace, and Cyprus continue to shape relations between Greece and Turkey.
Observers note that such reports often reflect domestic narratives and geopolitical messaging rather than confirmed policy developments, underscoring the need for caution amid heightened regional sensitivities.
Turkey Rejects Israel-Greece-Cyprus Deals
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