OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)
Israel is considering closing its consulate in Istanbul, which was targeted in a shooting operation last April, an Israeli diplomat told AFP on Wednesday.
The embassy in Ankara will remain open, although it has been without diplomatic staff since their evacuation after Israel launched its genocidal war on the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023.
Diplomats were also withdrawn from the Istanbul consulate, located in a business district of Turkey’s largest city, with both missions now operated solely by Turkish staff.
“The issue is under discussion. No decision has been made,” the Israeli source said, noting that plans to demolish the consulate building are linked to earthquake-preparation measures.
Deliberations over the closure of the Istanbul consulate started following a nearby shooting incident on April 7. No group has claimed responsibility, but Turkish authorities blamed a terrorist group, without providing further details.
