Turkey recalls envoy to Israel, blasts Netanyahu amid 'unfolding humanitarian tragedy'

Turkey has recalled its ambassador to Israel and breaking off contacts with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in protest at the bloodshed in Gaza, Ankara announced the decision Saturday on the eve of what promises to be a difficult visit to the country by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Turkey, a Palestinian ally had been in the process of repairing its strained relations with Israel until the beginning of the Israel-Hamas conflict last month. In a statement, Turkey’s foreign ministry said Torunlar was recalled: “in view of the unfolding humanitarian tragedy in Gaza caused by the continuing attacks by Israel against civilians, and Israel’s refusal of calls for ceasefire and continuous and unhindered flow of humanitarian aid.” Israeli diplomats in Turkey had left the country before its foreign ministry recalled them, due to security concerns after pro-Palestinian protests erupted across the country. Prior to the Israel-Hamas war, Turkey was working to repair relations with Israel after years of acrimony. Erdogan added that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi would visit Turkey at the end of November, and that he would attend an Organisation for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Riyadh this month to discuss a ceasefire in Gaza. He said Turkey would support any initiatives to ensure that Israel is held accountable for what he described as war crimes and human rights violations and that a failure to do so would erode trust in the global system. Erdogan said Gaza must be part of an independent, sovereign Palestinian state once the Israel-Hamas war is over, and Ankara will not support any plans “gradually erasing Palestinians” from history. Turkey, which has sharply escalated its criticism of Israel as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has intensified, supports a two-state solution and hosts members of Hamas, which it does not view as a terrorist organisation, unlike the U.S., Britain and others in the West. Turkey has called for an immediate ceasefire and offered to set up a system to guarantee it. With inputs from agencies.