Turkey warned Israel of “serious consequences” should it pursue the assassination of Hamas members within Turkish borders. This stern admonition comes in the wake of a recording in which Ronen Bar, the head of Israel’s Shin Bet security agency, declared intent to eliminate Hamas leaders globally, including in Turkey.
Ronen Bar’s remarks, aired by Kan news on Sunday evening, outlined an aggressive strategy, “In Gaza, in the West Bank, in Lebanon, in Turkey, in Qatar, everyone,” he said, echoing Israel’s resolute stance post the Munich Olympics attack. The strategy, which he compared to the Israeli response to the 1972 Munich Olympics incident, underlines a long-term commitment to this objective.
In response, an unnamed Turkish intelligence official emphasised that Israel had been cautioned regarding the repercussions of such actions. Turkey’s Anadolu news agency also echoed these sentiments, warning Israel against engaging in any illegal activities within its jurisdiction.
This confrontation arises amidst a backdrop of escalating violence that erupted on 7 October, when Hamas-led forces breached the Gaza border, leading to significant civilian casualties and abductions in Israel. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has intensified, with Israel increasing attacks across the Gaza Strip, especially in the south. These attacks, described as “indiscriminate” by the Norwegian Refugee Council, have heavily impacted civilians and overwhelmed medical facilities such as the Nasser Medical Complex.
Amidst the violence, a temporary ceasefire was reached, facilitating the exchange of hostages and prisoners between Israel and Hamas. However, the ceasefire ended, and hostilities resumed, particularly in Khan Yunis, leading to significant casualties and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.