The decision by the Turkish embassy in Tel Aviv to fly its flag at half-staff in honor of Hamas' political leader Ismail Haniyeh on Turkey's national day of mourning has stirred up strong reactions from members of the Israeli government and public.
Foreign Minister Israel Katz expressed his disapproval by summoning Turkey's deputy ambassador for a stern reprimand, stating that Israel will not tolerate expressions of sympathy for someone like Haniyeh, whom they consider a murderer.
The Israeli foreign ministry issued a statement suggesting that if embassy representatives wish to mourn, they should do so in Turkey with President Erdogan, who is known for supporting the terrorist organization Hamas.
Israeli far-right national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir went a step further by calling for the expulsion of the Turkish ambassador, condemning Turkey's gesture of lowering the flag as a tribute to Haniyeh as a reflection of their opinion of Israel.
Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared Friday as a national day of mourning for Haniyeh, who was reportedly assassinated in Tehran. The Turkish foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, attended Haniyeh's funeral in Doha, Qatar.
Israel has neither confirmed nor denied any involvement in the assassination of Haniyeh, further adding to the tensions between the two countries.
Since October 7, Turkey and Israel have been engaged in a war of words, exchanging insults through public statements, highlighting the strained relations between the two nations.
