According to a report by Ragıp Soylu of the British news agency Middle East Eye, citing Israeli sources, Israel has started to gradually send its diplomats back to Turkey as of this month.
After 7 October, Israel, which began attacks in Gaza and faced fierce protests in the countries of the region as the intensity of its attacks increased, withdrew all its diplomats in the region, including Turkey, for security reasons.
Israeli sources told Middle East Eye that Israel began returning its diplomats from Turkey earlier this month, six months after withdrawing them. According to the report, a Turkish official confirmed that Israeli diplomats had returned to their posts.
The report noted that Israel’s move to repatriate the diplomats came after Ankara completely cut off trade with Israel.
Turkey and Israel had downgraded their diplomatic relations to the level of charge d’affaires, reducing diplomatic and political contacts to zero, due to tensions that began in 2018 when the US recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and moved its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
However, last year, in line with the main trend in the region, steps were taken to normalise relations and reciprocal ambassadors were appointed. 7 October and the subsequent Israeli attacks on Gaza interrupted this trend.
In the first days after 7 October, Turkey adopted a more balanced discourse, but after Israel’s attack on the Al-Ahli hospital, Turkey began to harden its tone. Erdoğan accused Israel, which he blamed for the attack, of carrying out attacks ‘bordering on genocide’.
Israeli diplomats serving in Turkey, including Israeli Ambassador to Ankara Irit Lillian, decided to leave Turkey for “security reasons” after protests outside the embassy and consulate intensified on 19 October.
