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Turkey Arrests 33 Suspected Israeli Spies Amid Heightened Tensions

Suspects Allegedly Planned to Kidnap and Assault Foreign Nationals; Erdogan Warns of 'Serious Consequences' for Israel

TOPSHOT - Turkish police officers stand guard near the Blue Mosque in Istanbul's tourist hub of Sultanahmet on January 13, 2016, a day after an attack. Turkish authorities probed how a jihadist from Syria killed 10 mainly German tourists in an attack in the heart of Istanbul that raised alarm over security in the city. (Photo by BULENT KILIC / AFP) (Photo by BULENT KILIC/AFP via Getty Images)
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Overview

  • Turkish authorities have arrested 33 people suspected of spying for Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, with 13 more suspects still being sought.
  • The suspects were allegedly planning to carry out activities that included 'reconnaissance' and 'pursuing, assaulting and kidnapping' foreign nationals living in Turkey.
  • The arrests come amid heightened tensions between Turkey and Israel, following the Israel-Hamas war, with Turkey becoming one of the strongest critics of Israel's military actions in Gaza.
  • Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned Israel of 'serious consequences' if it pressed ahead with its threat to attack Hamas officials on Turkish soil.
  • Erdogan has intensified his criticism of Israel, describing its actions in Gaza as verging on 'genocide' and calling for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be prosecuted for 'war crimes'.