Israel Recalls Diplomats from Turkey Amid Erdogan's Controversial Remarks

Israel has announced the withdrawal of its diplomats from Turkey to reassess relations, following President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's criticism of Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip. Erdogan, speaking at a pro-Palestinian rally, stated that Turkey was preparing to declare Israel a "war criminal." The Turkish president has recently escalated his criticism of Israel, asserting that Hamas is a liberation group rather than a terrorist organization. Israel's Energy Minister Israel Katz condemned Erdogan's remarks, calling him an antisemite, while the Israeli Ambassador to the UN referred to Erdogan as a snake. Erdogan accused Western countries of being responsible for the deaths in Gaza and criticized their double standards. The strained relations between Israel and Turkey have seen periods of improvement but were further strained after the 2010 Mavi Marmara incident.