Tel Aviv: Israel has decided to withdraw its diplomatic representatives from Turkey after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his support for Hamas and condemned Israel’s military operation in the Gaza Strip. Erdogan, who addressed a massive pro-Palestinian rally in Istanbul on Saturday, called Israel a “war criminal” and an “occupier” and said that Hamas was not a terrorist group but a “freedom fighter”. He also accused some Western countries of giving “unconditional support” to Israel and said that Turkey would declare Israel a war criminal at the international level.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen announced the recall of diplomats from Turkey on X, formerly Twitter, saying that he had ordered the move “in view of the serious statements coming from Turkey”. He added that Israel would “re-evaluate relations between Israel and Turkey”. No further details were given. Israel and Turkey have had strained ties for years, especially since Erdogan’s Islamist-rooted party came to power in 2002. The two countries have clashed over various regional issues, such as the Syrian civil war, the Libyan conflict, and the Eastern Mediterranean gas dispute.
Meanwhile, Israel has intensified its aerial and ground assault on the Gaza Strip, where Hamas militants have been firing rockets at Israeli cities since October 7. The Israeli army said it was “expanding” its ground campaign in Gaza and vowed to destroy Hamas’ underground network of tunnels and rocket launchers. The army also said it had cut off internet and phone access in Gaza, effectively isolating the enclave from the outside world. According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, more than 9,000 people have been killed in the Israeli strikes, including more than 4,000 children. According to Israeli officials, more than 1,500 people have been killed by Hamas rockets, mostly civilians, and 230 hostages have been taken by Hamas gunmen who stormed into southern Israel on October 7.
