Gaza genocide and arms company profits underpin anti-Nato protests in Turkey

What Happened

As NATO's 2026 summit opened in Ankara, protests against the alliance erupted in Turkey, driven by the ongoing war in Gaza and increased defense spending mandates. Middle East Eye reports that the Workers Party of Turkey (TIP) organized a counter-summit in Istanbul, drawing international socialists and anti-war activists. The Ankara Governorate imposed a protest ban for the summit's duration. At least 225 people were arrested ahead of the summit, including academic Emel Memis, journalist Yildiz Tar, and lawyers Semra Demir and Kursat Bafra. Delegates from the International Peace Bureau and Germany's Die Linke youth wing were detained at Istanbul Airport, had their phones confiscated, held overnight, and deported. TIP claimed that 17 of its members were also detained during the summit. The party and other critics accuse NATO of channelling public wealth into arms industries and enabling Israel's military campaign in Gaza, noting that no NATO mechanism has been used to restrain Israel.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The protests underscore domestic and international backlash against NATO's military spending targets and its perceived complicity in the Gaza war. Turkey's hosting of the summit exposes fractures within the alliance, as leftist and Islamist groups unite in opposition, while the government's crackdown reveals tensions between security measures and political dissent.

Watch For

Continued demonstrations despite the ban, potential further detentions of activists, and whether the counter-summit's message influences summit discussions on Israel's security integration. Also monitor any legal challenges to the deportation of international delegates.