Israel Recalls Diplomatic Staff From Türkiye As Erdogan Accuses It Of Acting Like 'War Criminal' In Gaza

Israel said it is recalling its diplomatic staff in Türkiye in response to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who accused Israel of acting like a "war criminal" over the military operation in Gaza.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's party organised a massive pro-Palestinian rally in Istanbul on Saturday. ( Image Source :X/@RTErdogan )

Israel announced on Saturday that it is recalling its diplomatic staff from Türkiye in response to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's harsh criticism of its military campaign in Gaza. This development marks a significant escalation in the diplomatic tensions between the two nations. Erdogan, a staunch advocate for Palestinian rights, had made pointed remarks earlier in the day, blaming Western powers for the Israeli army's actions in Gaza. He referred to them as "the main culprit" behind what he described as a "massacre" of Palestinians in the region, news agency AFP reported.

On Saturday, Erdogan's party organised a massive pro-Palestinian rally in Istanbul, with the Turkish leader estimating a turnout of 1.5 million people. Addressing the crowd with a microphone in hand, Erdogan launched a scathing critique of Israel and its Western supporters, an AFP report mentioned.

Erdogan asserted, "The main culprit behind the massacre unfolding in Gaza is the West." He further accused Israel of acting like a "war criminal" and questioned the justice of its actions, the report stated.

The Turkish President called out Western powers for their perceived double standards, highlighting their focus on civilian casualties in Ukraine while seemingly turning a blind eye to Palestinian civilian deaths in Gaza. "We are against all these double standards and all these hypocrisies," he remarked, as quoted by AFP

Additionally, Erdogan accused Israel's allies of fostering a "crusade war atmosphere" that he suggested was pitting Christians against Muslims.

In his closing remarks, President Erdogan called for dialogue and pursuit of a just peace, asserting, "No one loses from a just peace."

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen conveyed the decision on recalling its envoys in a statement posted on X, stating, "Given the grave statements coming from Turkey, I have ordered the return of diplomatic representatives there in order to conduct a reevaluation of the relations between Israel and Turkey."

The health ministry in Gaza, controlled by Hamas, reported a loss of 7,703 lives due to Israeli strikes, the majority of whom were civilians, with more than 3,500 being children.

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