ANKARA, Turkey — Turkish authorities have detained 33 folks suspected of spying for Israel, Turkey‘s state-run news agency reported on Tuesday.
Authorities were still searching for 13 others believed to have links to Israel’s Mossad safety service, the Anadolu Agency reported.
The suspects have been detained in raids in Istanbul and 7 different provinces for allegedly planning to hold out actions that included “reconnaissance” and “pursuing, assaulting and kidnapping” overseas nationals residing in Turkey, the company reported.
The suspects have been allegedly recruited to spy on Palestinians residing in Turkey in addition to Israeli activists against their authorities, Anadolu stated. Israeli officers allegedly contacted the suspects through social media, it stated.
The report comes weeks after the pinnacle of Israel’s home safety company, Shin Bet, stated in an audio recording that his group is ready to destroy Hamas “in every place,” together with in Lebanon, Turkey and Qatar.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Israel of “serious consequences” if it pressed forward with its risk to assault Hamas officers on Turkish soil.
Turkey and Israel had normalized ties in 2022 by reappointing ambassadors following years of tensions. But these ties shortly deteriorated after the Israel-Hamas conflict, with Ankara turning into one of many strongest critics of Israel’s army actions in Gaza.
Israel initially withdrew its diplomats from Turkey over safety considerations and later introduced it was recalling its diplomats for political causes, citing “increasingly harsh statements” from Turkish officers. Turkey additionally pulled out its ambassador from Israel.
Erdogan’s response to the Israel-Hamas conflict was initially pretty muted. But the Turkish chief has since intensified his criticism of Israel, describing its actions in Gaza as verging on “genocide.” He has referred to as for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be prosecuted for “war crimes” and in contrast him to Nazi chief Adolf Hitler.
Erdogan, whose authorities has hosted a number of Hamas officers previously, has additionally stated the militant group – thought-about a terrorist group by Israel, the United States and the European Union – is combating for the liberation of its lands and other people.
