Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told journalists on November 13, 2024, that his government had severed all relations with Israel and would not pursue future cooperation.
He spoke aboard his plane after visits to Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan. The declaration was his account of Turkey’s position, although Turkish diplomatic missions in Tel Aviv remained open and operational.
“The government of the Republic of Turkey, under the leadership of Tayyip Erdogan, will not continue or develop relations with Israel,” he said.
An announcement with practical qualifications
Erdogan said his ruling coalition was resolute and would maintain its position. Yet the situation on the ground was more complicated than the closure of every diplomatic channel.
Turkey had formally recalled its ambassador for consultations the previous year. Its missions in Tel Aviv nevertheless continued operating.
Israel had evacuated its embassy in Ankara the previous year, citing regional security threats.
The announcement also followed a trade embargo Turkey had imposed on Israel in May. Diplomatic and commercial restrictions therefore coexisted with functioning Turkish missions and reports of indirect trade.
Gaza and legal action
Erdogan vowed to pursue every avenue to make Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, answer for his conduct in Gaza. International human-rights groups had described those actions as genocide, an allegation rather than a finding reproduced here as settled fact.
Earlier in 2024, Turkey had joined Palestine’s side in International Court of Justice proceedings alleging genocide by Israel. It had also advocated an arms embargo against Israel.
An initiative to stop weapons and ammunition shipments to Israel had support from 52 countries and two international organisations, Erdogan said. Turkey had launched it at the United Nations earlier that November.
He said a formal letter had gone to the president of the UN Security Council and the secretary-general. Arab League organisations and members were to be invited to sign following a summit in Riyadh.
From reconciliation to sanctions
The rupture followed a sharp deterioration after Erdogan and Netanyahu met in New York in September 2023 in what had been intended as a gesture of reconciliation.
Relations deteriorated after war erupted in Gaza following Hamas’s attack against Israel on 7 October 2023. Middle East Eye reported at the time that the war had killed more than 43,000 Palestinians.
Ankara intensified its criticism and adopted legal and trade measures. Domestic politics added pressure after local elections in which Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party lost ground, partly over its response to the war.
Opponents alleged that the government had left loopholes for goods to reach Israel indirectly through Palestine or other third countries. Reports of that continuing trade had prompted a public pressure campaign since September.
Sources
- Turkey Suspends Diplomatic Relations with Israel – ABCMEDIA
- Turkey severs all relations with Israel, says Erdogan | Middle East Eye
