Turkish Protesters Condemn Gaza Hospital Blast, Erdogan Declares Mourning

Palestinian officials contend that the hospital explosion was the result of an Israeli airstrike, while Israel, in turn, attributes the incident to a failed rocket launch by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, which denies any involvement. President Tayyip Erdogan strongly condemned the hospital explosion, characterizing it as "the latest example of Israeli attacks devoid of the most basic human values." The Turkish presidential communications office swiftly dismissed Israel's claims as "#FakeNews" on social media. President Erdogan declared three days of mourning in Turkey to honor the Palestinians who lost their lives in the Gaza hospital. Throughout the night, Turkish citizens took to the streets, brandishing Palestinian flags and chanting slogans denouncing Israel. These protests unfolded in over a dozen Turkish cities, with particularly fervent gatherings taking place outside the Israeli embassy in the capital city of Ankara. The demonstrations in Istanbul took a violent turn as thousands of protesters attempted to enter the compound of Israel's consulate. Police responded by deploying pepper spray and water cannon to disperse the crowds, leading to five detentions, as reported by the Istanbul governor's office. In response to the escalating tensions, Israel's National Security Council (NSC) issued a travel advisory, warning against traveling to Turkey due to fears that Israelis could become targets of public anger over the conflict. The NSC also urged Israeli citizens already in Turkey to leave as soon as possible. Following this appeal, Israeli airlines organized flights departing from Istanbul to facilitate the departure of Israelis who wished to leave the country. Many Israelis expressed a strong desire to return home, citing concerns for their safety. On Wednesday, the Israeli consulate in Istanbul witnessed a heavy security presence, with hundreds of police officers and approximately ten water cannon vehicles stationed behind barricades. Police conducted identity checks on individuals seeking access to the area. Protests continued into the evening, with demonstrators gathering near the consulates of Israel and the United States in Istanbul. Meanwhile, in Ankara, a few hundred protesters marched following a symbolic funeral prayer held in memory of those who perished in the hospital blast. In response to the ongoing demonstrations, the U.S. consulate in the southern city of Adana announced its temporary closure until further notice. Additionally, U.S. government personnel were advised to limit their movements within Turkey due to the ongoing protests, according to a statement from the U.S. Embassy in Ankara. Political analysts are raising concerns about the potential repercussions of the Gaza hospital blast on the relationship between Turkey and Israel. Wolfango Piccoli of Teneo suggested, "Ankara is now likely to assume a much harder anti-Israel stance." He went on to speculate that "Erdogan may even decide to abandon the rapprochement with Israel, which was initiated in 2022 after more than 10 years of fraught ties between the two countries... A deterioration in relations between Turkey and Israel would also likely impact Turkey-U.S. ties, creating further stress between the two NATO allies at a volatile time." As Turkey enters a period of mourning for the victims in Gaza, the international community watches with concern to see how this tragic incident will affect diplomatic relations and regional dynamics.

by Pratibha

October 19, 2023

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