Turkey recalls ambassador to Israel for consultations as Gaza war rages on
Over 60 hostages are missing due to Israeli airstrikes: Hamas armed wing
ISTANBUL + GAZA ( Web News )
Turkey has recalled its ambassador to Israel, Sakir Ozkan Torunlar, for consultations, after Israel recalled its envoys to Turkey last month to reassess their ties following Erdogan’s description of Hamas as freedom fighters.
In a statement, Turkey’s foreign ministry said Torunlar was recalled “in view of the unfolding humanitarian tragedy in Gaza caused by the continuing attacks by Israel against civilians, and Israel’s refusal of calls for ceasefire and continuous and unhindered flow of humanitarian aid.”
Israeli diplomats in Turkey had left the country before its foreign ministry recalled them, due to security concerns after pro-Palestinian protests erupted across the country.
Prior to the Israel-Hamas war, Turkey was working to repair relations with Israel after years of acrimony.
Erdogan added that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi would visit Turkey at the end of November, and that he would attend an Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Riyadh this month to discuss a ceasefire in Gaza.
He said Turkey would support any initiatives to ensure that Israel is held accountable for what he described as war crimes and human rights violations, and that a failure to do so would erode trust in the global system.
At least 9,488 Palestinians, including 3,900 children, have been killed
At least 9,488 Palestinians, including 3,900 children, have been killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza since October 7, the health ministry in Hamas-controlled Gaza said on Saturday.
Israel’s ground forces encircled Gaza City on Thursday after stepping up a bombing campaign it says aims at wiping out Hamas, after the militant group killed 1,400 people and took more than 240 hostage in an October 7 assault in southern Israel.
Israel last month ordered all civilians to leave the northern part of the Gaza Strip, including Gaza City, and head to the south of the enclave, which it has also continued to bomb.
Gaza’s living conditions, already dire before the fighting, have deteriorated further.
Earlier on Saturday, the Israeli military said it would enable Palestinians to travel on a main Gaza Strip highway as part of its three-week-old efforts to encourage civilians to evacuate southward away from areas that are the focus of its war with Hamas.
Over 60 hostages are missing due to Israeli airstrikes: Hamas armed wing.
The armed wing of Palestinian militant faction Hamas said on Saturday that more than 60 hostages were missing because of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza.
Late last month, Hamas said an estimated 50 captives held by the group were killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza.
Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson for the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said on Hamas’ telegram account that 23 bodies of the 60 missing Israel hostages were trapped under the rubble.
“It seems that we will never be able to reach them due to the continued brutal aggression of the occupation against Gaza,” he said.
Reuters could not immediately verify the statement. The Israeli army declined to comment.
The United States has been flying surveillance drones over Gaza in search of hostages taken by Hamas when the Palestinian militant group attacked Israel on Oct. 7, two US officials said on Thursday.
Hamas has so far released four civilians among the 239 believed to be held.
Israel announces three-hour Gaza highway clearance for evacuees
The Israeli military said it would enable Palestinians to travel on a main Gaza Strip highway on Saturday as part of its three-week-old efforts to encourage civilians to evacuate southward away from areas that are the focus of its war with Hamas.
In a social media post in Arabic, the military said the Salah a-Din road could be used between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. (1100 GMT and 1400). “If you care about yourself and your loved ones, heed our instruction to head south,” it added.