Israel said on Saturday it was withdrawing its diplomats from Turkey following “increasingly tough statements” from the government in Ankara. Turkey’s president told a huge protest rally in Istanbul that his government was preparing to declare Israel a “war criminal” in the Gaza Strip.
Israel has previously removed its diplomats from Türkiye over security concerns. But Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said on X, the platform, formerly known as Twitter, is now being ordered to withdraw in order to reassess relations between Turkey and Israel.
Cohen’s statement suggested a move that could sever newly restored diplomatic ties between the two countries. There was no immediate response from Turkey’s foreign ministry.
Earlier on Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during a pro-Palestinian rally that drew thousands of participants that his country planned to formally accuse Israel of war crimes in the Gaza Strip.
“Israel, we will declare you a war criminal to the world,” Erdogan said, without elaborating on what mechanism he would employ or what the move would mean. “We are making our preparations, and we will declare Israel a war criminal to the world.”
His office did not comment on his statement.
The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor says an inquiry into alleged crimes in the Palestinian territories has been opened in 2021 that could analyze allegations of war crimes in the current Israel-Hamas war.
In his speech at the Istanbul protests, Erdogan blamed Western countries for what the Hamas-led health ministry said had killed more than 7,700 people in Gaza in the past three weeks.
He accused the West of failing to stop Israel’s intense bombardment since militants from Hamas, the group that rules the Palestinian territories, broke through the border, looted and killed and kidnapped people in southern Israel on October 7.
Erdogan’s initial response to the Israel-Hamas war was fairly muted. He urged both sides to stop hostilities. Turkey says it is engaged in talks to rescue more than 220 hostages held by Hamas. It was not clear if any progress was being made in these efforts.
But the Turkish leader has stepped up criticism of Israel in recent days, describing Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide” and insisting that the Hamas militant group, considered a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States and the European Union, is fighting for the liberation of its land and people. .
Türkiye has hosted several Hamas officials in the past. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Qatar earlier in the week.
Turkey and Israel appointed ambassadors to their respective countries last year, marking a new chapter in diplomatic relations after years of tensions. In 2018, Turkey withdrew its ambassador from Israel and expelled Israel’s ambassador in protest over Israeli gunfire that killed dozens of Palestinians at protests along the Gaza border.
Erdogan, whose ruling party has roots in Turkey’s Islamist movement, has been an outspoken critic of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians since coming to power in 2003.
