ANKARA, Turkey (AP) – Turkish authorities have detained 33 people on suspicion of spying on behalf of Israel, Turkish state news agency reported Tuesday.
Authorities are continuing to search for 13 other people allegedly linked to Israel's Mossad security agency, Anadolu News Agency reported.
According to the agency's report, the suspects were suspected of planning activities such as “reconnaissance” and “tracking, assault, and kidnapping” of foreigners living in Turkey, and carried out coercion in Istanbul and seven other provinces. He was detained during the investigation.
Anadolu did not provide information on the suspect or the foreign nationals said to have been targeted. The report was released weeks after the head of Israel's internal security agency, the Shin Bet, said in an audio recording that the group was ready to destroy Hamas “everywhere,” including Lebanon, Turkey and Qatar. .
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned of “serious consequences” if Israel follows through on its threat to attack Hamas officials in Turkey.
NATO member Turkey accuses Western countries of 'barbarism' and 'Islamophobia' over support for Israelhttps://t.co/tkcb5z44Oj
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) December 9, 2023
After years of tension, Turkey and Israel reappointed their ambassadors and normalized relations in 2022. However, after the Israel-Hamas war, these relations deteriorated rapidly, and the Turkish government became one of the strongest critics of Israel's military actions in Gaza.
Israel initially withdrew its diplomats from Turkey, citing security concerns, but later announced it was recalling them for political reasons, citing “increasingly harsh statements” by Turkish officials. Türkiye also withdrew its ambassador from Israel.
President Erdoğan's reaction to the Israel-Hamas war was initially quite muted. However, the Turkish leader has since stepped up his criticism of Israel, saying its actions in Gaza bordered on “genocide”. He called for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be prosecuted for “war crimes” and compared him to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.
President Erdogan has hosted several Hamas officials to his government in the past, but the militant group, considered a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States and the European Union, is fighting for the liberation of its land and people. He also said.
