Turkey Blocks Israel-NATO Military Cooperation Until Gaza Ceasefire Achieved

Turkey has stated it will block military cooperation between Israel and NATO until a permanent ceasefire in Gaza is achieved. Recent actions include the prohibition of Israel’s participation in upcoming military drills and increased criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza. Turkey’s relations with Israel have worsened, leading to legal and economic repercussions against Israel.

Turkey will obstruct any new cooperation or military drills between Israel and NATO until a permanent ceasefire is enacted in Gaza, as reported by Turkish official sources to Middle East Eye. Recently, Turkey blocked Israel’s participation in NATO’s annual exercise on “resilience and emergency preparedness” scheduled for September in Bulgaria. Two Israeli sources confirmed that Ankara confirmed its opposition to Israel’s involvement in the drill.

Speculation arose that Turkey’s decision was connected to statements made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the protection of Druze and Kurdish communities in Syria, which angered Ankara. However, a Turkish official dismissed this notion, indicating that the blockade on Israel’s NATO engagements has been consistent for over a year, despite activities related to Israel’s existing status in NATO.

A Turkish official stated, “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 organised in NATO regarding Israel.” Previously, Turkey had revoked Israel’s observer status at NATO during a reconciliation phase in 2023.

Relations between Turkey and Israel have severely deteriorated following a meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Netanyahu in September 2023. The relations plunged even further after the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which was followed by an Israeli assault on Gaza that resulted in over 48,000 Palestinian deaths. This escalated Ankara’s criticism of the Israeli government, sparking legal actions and trade sanctions against Israel.

Since September, Turkey’s continued trade with Israel through third countries has faced public scrutiny, prompting opposition criticism against Erdogan for not closing loopholes. Furthermore, Ankara has joined a legal case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, alleging genocide in Gaza.

In summary, Turkey’s blockade against Israel’s military cooperation with NATO stems from ongoing humanitarian concerns related to the conflict in Gaza. The deterioration of Turkish-Israeli relations has prompted legal and economic actions from Ankara against Israel, highlighting Turkey’s insistence on a permanent ceasefire and the resolution of humanitarian access issues as prerequisites for cooperation. Turkey’s influence within NATO remains significant, underscoring the geopolitical implications of this stance.

Original Source: www.middleeasteye.net