Turkey recalls envoy to Israel, blasts Netanyahu
Istanbul: Turkey said Saturday it was recalling its ambassador to Israel and breaking off contacts with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in protest at the bloodshed in Gaza.
Ankara announced its decision on the eve of what promises to be a difficult visit to Turkey by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Palestinian ally Turkey had been gradually mending its torn relations with Israel until last month's start of the Israel-Hamas war.
But it began to harden its tone against both Israel and its Western supporters — particularly the United States — as the fighting escalated and the death toll among Palestinian civilians grew.
The Turkish foreign ministry foreign said ambassador Sakir Ozkan Torunlar was being recalled for consultations «in view of the unfolding humanitarian tragedy in Gaza caused by the continuing attacks by Israel against civilians, and Israel's refusal (to accept) a ceasefire».
Israeli forces have encircled Gaza's largest city, trying to crush Hamas in retaliation for October 7 raids into Israel that officials say killed around 1,400 people — mostly civilians — and took some 240 people hostage.
The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says nearly 9,500 people — mostly women and children — have since been killed in Israeli strikes and the intensifying ground campaign.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan separately told reporters that he held Netanyahu personally responsible for the growing civilian death toll in the Gaza Strip.
«Netanyahu is no longer someone we can talk to.
We have written him off,» Turkish media quoted Erdogan as saying.
— 'Stop this' -
Israel had earlier withdrawn all diplomats from Turkey and other regional countries as a security precaution.
