Turkey Blocks Israel-NATO Cooperation Until Ceasefire in Gaza Is Achieved
Turkey is halting new military cooperation with Israel in NATO until a permanent ceasefire in Gaza is secured. This includes blocking Israel’s participation in an upcoming NATO exercise in Bulgaria. The move reflects deepening tensions following Israel’s military actions in Gaza and Turkey’s broader discontent with Israeli policies in the region.
Turkey has announced that it will block any new collaboration, including military exercises, between Israel and NATO until a permanent ceasefire is established in Gaza. Turkish officials communicated this decision to Middle East Eye, stating that Israel’s participation in NATO’s upcoming resilience and emergency preparedness exercise in Bulgaria has been prevented.
Israeli sources have confirmed that Ankara’s blockade on Israel’s participation in the NATO drills aligns with broader regional tensions. Some speculate that Turkish objections may be fueled by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s comments regarding protection for Kurdish and Druze communities in Syria. However, a Turkish official refuted this notion, asserting that opposition to Israel’s engagement with NATO had been in place for over a year.
An official statement from Turkey emphasized, “Until a permanent ceasefire is achieved in Gaza and the obstacles to humanitarian aid are removed, we do not allow new or additional decisions to be made or new activities to be organized in NATO regarding Israel.” This reflects Ankara’s position amidst a backdrop of strained Turkish-Israeli relations, particularly following the Hamas-led attack and Israel’s military response which has resulted in significant casualties in Gaza.
The deteriorating relationship has also prompted Turkey to take further actions, such as supporting legal measures against Israel in the International Court of Justice, regarding accusations of genocide in Gaza. Furthermore, public scrutiny has mounted on President Erdogan’s administration regarding trade relations with Israel, exacerbated by recent domestic political challenges.
In summary, Turkey’s blockade of Israeli participation in NATO military drills underscores the ongoing complexities in Turkish-Israeli relations, marked by intensified criticism and actions from Ankara amidst the Gaza conflict. The Turkish government maintains that no new collaborations with Israel will proceed until a lasting ceasefire is in place, profoundly impacting diplomatic interactions within NATO.
Original Source: www.middleeasteye.net
