Israel has taken the step of recalling its diplomats from Turkey in response to a passionate speech delivered by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at a pro-Palestinian rally in Istanbul. Speaking before a large crowd of demonstrators, Erdoğan indirectly blamed Western governments for the ongoing “massacre” in Gaza, without explicitly naming any specific country. The Israeli Foreign Minister, Eli Cohen, announced the recall, citing the gravity of Erdoğan’s statements and the need for a re-evaluation of Israel’s relations with Turkey.
Despite the recall, it has been reported that the Israeli ambassador to Ankara, Irit Lillian, and other embassy staff had already left the country more than a week before. This move underscores the escalating tensions between the two nations.
During his speech, Erdoğan made pointed accusations against Israel, alleging the commission of war crimes and accusing Western politicians of legitimizing the actions taken against the Palestinian people. Wearing a scarf in the colors of the Palestinian and Turkish flags, Erdoğan questioned how many more innocent lives must be lost before a ceasefire is called for.
Notably, Erdoğan’s recent rhetoric towards Israel is in stark contrast to the stance taken by Western countries, which have openly expressed support for Israel since a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel. This attack resulted in the deaths of over 1,400 people, mainly civilians, and the capture of more than 220 others.
The international community has condemned Hamas as a terrorist organization, but Erdogan’s criticism of Israel’s response to the attack reflects sentiments that have become increasingly common in parts of the Arab and Muslim worlds.
The Israeli bombardment of Gaza, which has caused significant damage to civilian neighborhoods, has resulted in the deaths of over 6,500 people, as reported by Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry. Israel, on the other hand, maintains that it takes precautions to minimize civilian casualties and attributes the difficulty of doing so to Hamas intentionally hiding its forces among the civilian population. In response to the ongoing conflict, Israel has announced its intention to eradicate Hamas and has begun amassing troops at the border of Gaza as a potential precursor to a ground invasion.
Over the past two decades, Turkey’s relationship with Israel has experienced turbulence, often tied to Erdogan’s concerns about the treatment of Palestinians. However, there have been recent attempts at rapprochement between the two nations. Last year, Turkey welcomed Israel’s President Isaac Herzog to Ankara, marking the first visit by an Israeli head of state since 2008. High-level meetings between Israeli and Turkish defense officials also resulted in a commitment to resume working relations.
In conclusion, the recall of Israeli diplomats from Turkey in response to President Erdoğan’s speech reflects the growing tensions between the two countries. The contrasting positions taken by Western governments and those in the Arab and Muslim worlds demonstrate a deepening divide over the situation in Gaza. As the conflict continues to unfold, it remains uncertain how the relations between Israel and Turkey will evolve in the future.
By Media Talk Africa, dpa/NAN
