Turkey has officially severed all relations with Israel, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Wednesday during his return flight from a visit to Saudi Arabia. “The government of the Republic of Turkey, under my leadership, will no longer continue or develop relations with Israel,” Erdogan stated, confirming his coalition’s commitment to stand firm on this decision.
This announcement follows months of strained ties between the two nations. Despite enforcing a trade embargo on Israel in May, Turkey has maintained limited diplomatic relations, with Turkish diplomatic missions still operating in Tel Aviv. Last year, however, Turkey formally recalled its ambassador, and Israel evacuated its embassy staff from Ankara, citing security concerns.
Erdogan emphasized Turkey’s determination to hold Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accountable for actions in Gaza, which several international human rights organizations have described as genocide. Earlier this year, Turkey supported Palestine in a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and advocated for an arms embargo on Tel Aviv.
The move underscores Erdogan’s stance on Palestinian rights and aligns with Turkey’s broader diplomatic goals in the region, as the country continues to voice strong opposition to Israeli policies in Gaza.
