Turkey’s government ordered Israeli ambassador, Etan Naeh to leave the country in response to Israel’s killing of Palestinian protestors in the Gaza strip yesterday.
The ambassador was told by Turkey’s foreign minister that it would be “appropriate” if he returned to Israel “for a while” reports the Washington Post.
Israel responded by asking Turkey’s ambassador to Israel to also return to Turkey.
The moves came as Israel faced international criciticism for its brutal response to Palestinian protestors that saw over 50 killed and 2700 injured in one day.
Belgium and Ireland summoned Israeli ambassadors to express extreme displeasure at Israel’s response.
South Africa earlier recalled its ambassador to Israel.
The UK prime minister Theresa May called Israel’s use of live fire “ deeply disturbing,” calling for an “independent an transparent investigation, including why such a volume of lvie fire was used and what role Hamas played in events.”
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellors Angela Merkel spoke on the phone with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to express discontent.
The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting on Tuesday to discuss the rising tensions on the Gaza border. A Security Council statement expressing “outrage and sorrow at the killing of Palestinian civilians exercising their right to peaceful protest," was eventually blocked by the US.
