Turkey arrests 33 suspected of spying on Israel

Authorities are still seeking 13 others believed to be linked to the Israeli intelligence service Mossad, the Anadolu agency reported.

The suspects were arrested during raids in Istanbul and seven other provinces. They were allegedly planning to carry out activities, including <x0im” and “persecution, assault and kidnapping” of foreign citizens living in Turkey, the Turkish agency reported.

Anadolu gave no information about suspects or foreign citizens, allegedly targeted. This announcement comes weeks after the head of Israel's security agency, Shin Bet, said through an audioincation that his organisation is prepared to destroy the Palestinian group Hamas declared by the US and the EU “in every” country, including in Lebanon, Turkey and Qatar.

Turkey's President, Recep Tayip Erdogan, has warned Israel of “serious consequences if it continues with threats to attack Hamas officials on Turkish soil.

Turkey and Israel have normalised reports in 2022, reappointed ambassadors to relevant states after years of tense reports. But these reports soon deteriorated after the Israeli-Haams war, and Ankara is one of the most vocal critics of Israel's military action at the Gaza Strip.

Initially, Israel withdrew its diplomats from Turkey due to security concerns and later announced that it was drawing diplomats for political reasons, citing “the achievement of harsh statements” by officials in Turkey. Turkey has also withdrawn its ambassador from Israel.

Erdogan has voiced a series of criticisms against Israel, describing the actions of this state in Gaza as <x0-genocide”. He has called for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyah to be prosecuted for “war crimes” and compared it to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.

Erdogan, whose government in the past has been a host of several Hamas officials, has also said the Palestinian radical group is fighting for the liberation of its lands and its people. / REL