Turkey will block all new military cooperation between Israel and NATO until a permanent ceasefire in Gaza is reached. Recent exercises involving Israel have been canceled, illustrating Turkey’s influence within NATO. Tensions remain high following events in Gaza, with legal actions being pursued against Israel at international levels.
Turkey is set to block further military cooperation with NATO involving Israel until a permanent ceasefire is established in Gaza. According to official sources, Ankara has already prevented Israel’s participation in NATO’s upcoming exercise in Bulgaria, focused on resilience and emergency preparedness. Reports confirm that Turkey’s veto affects Israeli engagement in NATO operations, highlighting Ankara’s significant influence within the organization, reliant on unanimous consent for decisions.
The blocking action from Turkey is reportedly not directly influenced by recent remarks from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding Syrian communities, despite speculation to the contrary. A Turkish official clarified ongoing restrictions, noting, “We have been blocking Israel’s new engagements with NATO for over a year”. Furthermore, Turkey stressed it will not permit new NATO activities involving Israel until humanitarian issues in Gaza are addressed.
Historically, Turkey has denied Israel observer status within NATO, a stance momentarily lifted during a reconciliation phase earlier in 2023. However, escalating tensions following the recent Hamas-led attack on October 7 and the resulting humanitarian fallout in Gaza have led to a further deterioration in Turkish-Israeli relations, resulting in increased criticism from Ankara.
In the aftermath of these events, Turkey has pursued legal actions and imposed trade sanctions against Israel, partly influenced by domestic political pressures. Following disappointing local elections, Turkish leaders face accusations of inadequately responding to the situation in Gaza. Additionally, Turkey has joined a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice over allegations of genocide in Gaza, underscoring its commitment to holding Israel accountable at international forums.
Turkey’s blocking of Israeli-NATO military drills emphasizes its stance on the Gaza conflict, asserting that until a ceasefire is secured and humanitarian access is restored, no new engagements with Israel will be permitted. This move reflects deteriorating Turkish-Israeli relations amidst heightened tensions and domestic political pressures within Turkey to take a firmer stance against Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Original Source: www.middleeasteye.net
