Turkey Recalls Envoys to US, Israel over Embassy Move
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Turkey is recalling its ambassadors to the US and Israel in an official protest of the Trump administration's decision to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to al-Quds (Jerusalem).
Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency, citing Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag, said the envoys were being called back.
The report was confirmed by the Turkish embassy in Washington.
Asked how long the recall would last, a spokesperson for the Turkish Embassy said "we don't know at this stage" adding that the ambassador had been recalled for "consultations."
In recent days, Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been harshly critical of the US decision to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to al-Quds. The holy city has long been considered such a fraught and thorny issue that international negotiators had agreed to leave the question of al-Quds to final status negotiations.
In a similar move, South Africa has withdrawn its ambassador to Israel following the killings of Palestinians and said, "Given the indiscriminate and gravity of the latest Israeli attack, the South African government has taken a decision to recall Ambassador Sisa Ngombane with immediate effect until further notice."
The Gaza Health Ministry put the Palestinian death toll in Gaza border protests on Monday at nearly 60, including 57 people killed by Israeli army fire and a baby who died from tear gas inhalation.
The ministry said six of those killed by gunshots were minors.
It said more than 2,700 people were injured Monday, including 1,360 by live fire. Of the wounded, 130 are in serious or critical condition.
On Monday, tens of thousands of Palestinians rallied near Israel's border fence to protest a blockade of their territory and the move of the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to al-Quds that day.