Turkish relations deteriorated further on Wednesday after a bitter exchange over Gaza violence, Ankara harshly criticized the high death toll in clashes on the Gaza border between Palestinians and IDF.
This is the first time of multiple tit-for-tat spats where Turkey and Israel have a number of politicians threatening to cut back on economic relations and trade between the two countries. These relations have hone unaffected in previous crises.
Israeli minister Yisrael Katz said he saw “no reason morally and historically” not to recognize the Armenian genocide, adding that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who recalled the Turkish ambassador in response to the Gaza killings, “is truly an enemy”.
Israel's Ambassador to Ankara Eitan Naeh was publically humiliated over gruesome IDF violence against Gaza protestors.
Naeh was put through a strict security screening at Istanbul International airport, including removing his shoes, in front of media cameras.
On the other hand, the Israeli Foreign Ministry summoned acting Turkish ambassador to Israel, Umut Deniz, for a reprimand hearing.
Before he entered, he waited a long time and was searched and checked. The Turkish consul handling Palestinian issues in the West Bank in Jerusalem was expelled. Diplomatic representation between the two countries has declined massively in light of the new crisis.
The spat erupted between the two countries after dozens of Palestinians were shot dead by Israeli soldiers at the border fence with the Gaza Strip.
Erdogan issued statements condemning Israel, saying that the hands of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were stained with the blood of innocent Palestinians, considering Israel an apartheid and terror state.
Immediately afterwards, Netanyahu responded by saying that whoever kills innocents in Syria and Iraq has no right to accuse others. Netanyahu also accused Erdogan of “supporting Hamas terrorism.”
The statements then turned into actions with both administrations expelling and humiliating diplomats from both countries.
