The Turkish government has been criticised by some for not doing enough for Gaza, but it has moved to cut many ties.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has long been a vocal defender of the Palestinian cause, condemning Israel for its actions towards Palestinians, and once notably berating the late former Israeli President Shimon Peres on stage at the World Economic Forum.

His vocal support for Palestine reflects how important the Palestinian cause is to many Turkish citizens. Back in 2010, for instance, a boat called the Mavi Marmara – part of a flotilla seeking to deliver aid to the besieged Gaza Strip – was stopped and raided by Israeli forces.

Nine people on board were killed, while dozens were injured. The incident fractured Turkey-Israeli relations for years until 2016, when the countries agreed to a pathway to normalising relations.

But ties are souring again due to Israel’s devastating war on Gaza.

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