Erdoğan Cuts Israel Ties Over Gaza

Turkey has severed all ties with Israel, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced, vowing to hold Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accountable for Israel's actions in Gaza, which some human rights groups have labeled genocide.

Erdoğan emphasized Turkey's commitment to pursuing accountability through all available means.

This dramatic move follows Turkey's intervention at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) earlier this year, supporting Palestine in a genocide case against Israel and advocating for an arms embargo against Tel Aviv.

Erdoğan revealed that 52 countries and two international organizations have backed the arms embargo initiative Turkey launched at the UN in early November. This initiative, formally submitted to the UN Security Council President and UN Secretary-General, seeks to halt the flow of weapons and ammunition to Israel.

Erdoğan further stated that a decision was reached at the Riyadh summit to invite all Arab League members and organizations to endorse the initiative.

The rupture follows a sharp downturn in Turkish-Israeli relations since a reconciliatory meeting between Erdoğan and Netanyahu in New York last September.

The Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and Israel's subsequent military response in Gaza, resulting in over 43,000 Palestinian deaths, have fueled Ankara's condemnation of the Netanyahu government. Turkey has responded with legal actions and trade sanctions, amplified by domestic pressure following local elections where Erdoğan's

AKP party faced criticism for its perceived inadequate response to the Gaza conflict. Despite official measures, ongoing Turkish trade with Israel via third countries and Palestine has drawn public scrutiny and opposition accusations that Erdoğan has not fully closed loopholes enabling continued commercial interaction.