Protesters storm Israel embassy in Istanbul, claim ‘Israel is killing again’
Turkish police fired tear gas at protesters Friday outside the Israeli consulate in Istanbul as demonstrators surrounded the building, throwing stones in condemnation of Israel’s ground offensive on Gaza.
According to local media reports, the crowd chanted “Murderer Israel, get out of Palestine”, as they smashed windows, while anti-Jewish graffiti was painted across one of the building’s walls and a green Palestinian flag was raised.
The protesters attempted to enter the consulate a number of times and lit a fire outside, according to Algemeiner which describes the incident as a “violent protest.”
“Israel is acting like a spoiled child,” The head of the IHH terror-linked humanitarian NGO behind the infamous Mavi Marmara Flotilla, Bulent Yildirim said. “Jewish tourists, don’t dare come to Turkey. Tonight and tomorrow we are going to hold a different kind of protest, we do not have patience anymore.”
“The Zionists are putting the future of the Jews in danger, we can not hold back our youngsters anymore,” he said.
“Fight! Martyrdom!” they were heard saying in Istanbul.
In Ankara demonstrators waved Turkish and Palestinian flags outside the Israeli embassy and chanted slogans. Windows were broken but police reportedly did not intervene. Earlier in the week, Turkish newspaper the Daily Sabah reported that protesters left a black wreath at the embassy’s gate in Ankara and held a banner declaring: “Israel is killing again.”
As tensions rose in Israel and Gaza over the past weeks, Turkey’s Jews have faced a barrage of threats and abuse.
Two days ago, local newspaper Yeni Akit, affiliated with Erdogan, called on the country’s Jewish community to apologize for the casualties of Israel’s operation in Gaza.
Reportedly twenty Palestinians and an Israeli soldier were killed in Gaza today after Israel launched a ground operation aimed at destroying tunnels and halting rocket fire by the territory’s Hamas leaders.
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Why do Jews living outside of Israel have to be accountable for Israeli actions? They can’t vote for Israeli politicians. Am I missing something?