(AFP) — Turkey said Saturday it was recalling its ambassador to Israel and breaking off contacts with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in protest at the bloodshed in Gaza.
Ankara announced the decisions on the eve of what promises to be a difficult visit to Turkey by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Palestinian ally Turkey had been mending torn relations with Israel until last month’s start of the Israel-Hamas war.
But its tone hardened against both Israel and its Western supporters — particularly the United States — as the fighting escalated and the death toll among Palestinian civilians soared.
The Turkish foreign ministry said ambassador Sakir Ozkan Torunlar was being recalled for consultations “in view of the unfolding humanitarian tragedy in Gaza caused by the continuing attacks by Israel against civilians, and Israel’s refusal (to accept) a ceasefire”.
Israeli forces have encircled Gaza’s largest city while trying to crush Hamas in retaliation for October 7 raids into Israel that officials say killed around 1,400 people — mostly civilians — and saw some 240 people taken hostage.
The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says around 9,500 people — mostly women and children — have since been killed in Israeli strikes and the intensifying ground campaign.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan separately told reporters that he held Netanyahu personally responsible for the growing civilian death toll in the Gaza Strip.
“Netanyahu is no longer someone we can talk to. We have written him off,” Turkish media quoted Erdogan as saying.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends the ”Great Palestine Meeting” at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, Turkiye on October 28, 2023. (Photo by TUR Presidency/ Murat Cetinmuhurdar/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Israel had earlier withdrawn all diplomats from Turkey and other regional countries as a security precaution.
The Israeli foreign ministry said last weekend it was “re-evaluating” relations with Ankara because of Turkey’s increasingly heated rhetoric about the Israel-Hamas war.
Erdogan said Saturday that Turkey could not afford to entirely break off diplomatic contacts between the sides.
“Completely severing ties is not possible, especially in international diplomacy,” Erdogan said.
He said MIT intelligence agency chief Ibrahim Kalin was spearheading Turkey’s efforts to try and mediate an end to the war.
“Ibrahim Kalin is talking to the Israeli side. Of course, he is also negotiating with Palestine and Hamas,” Erdogan said.
Editor’s Note: The Israeli government estimate of 1,400 for the death toll from the October 7 Hamas attack in Israel was revised to around 1,200, according to Reuters.
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