Turkey Rejects Israeli President Entering Its Airspace, Erdogan: We Are Not Allowing It

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday Turkey refused to allow Israeli President Isaac Herzog to use his airspace to attend a COP climate summit in Azerbaijan, highlighting Ankara's attitude amid tensions with Israel.

"We do not allow the President of Israel to use our airspace to attend the COP summit. We suggest alternative routes and other options," President Erdogan told reporters at the G20 summit in Brazil.

"But whether he can leave or not, I honestly don't know," President Erdogan continued.

The latest conflict in Gaza broke out on October 7, 2023, after a militant group led by Hamas attacked the southern region of Lebanon, leaving about 1,200 people dead and 250 others held hostage, according to Israeli calculations. Israel responded to that with airstrikes, blockades and ground operations in Gaza.

Yesterday, Gaza's health authorities confirmed that the death toll from Palestine since the conflict broke out had reached 43,972 people and 100,008 injured, the majority being women and children, quoted from WAFA.

Turkey withdrew its ambassador to Israel for consultation after the Gaza war erupted, but has not officially cut ties with Israel and its embassy to remain open and operational.

"In certain ways, as Turkey, we were forced to take a stand, and we will continue to do so," he said.

President Herzog was finally reported to have canceled the visit.

"Given the assessment of the situation and for security reasons, the President of State has decided to cancel his trip to the Climate Conference in Azerbaijan," the Israeli presidency said.

Citing The Times of Israel, according to a Ynet news site report, officials in Azerbaijan objected to assuming their country was unsafe to visit President Herzog, saying the real reason for the cancellation was Turkey's rejection.

Israeli officials were quoted as saying the cancellation was due to a security assessment, but they never said there were security concerns in Azerbaijan itself.

Azerbaijan, an ally of Israel, borders Iran in the south. Direct flights to Baku from Israel must fly over Syria, Iraq and Iran, which are not possible. Another route, across the Mediterranean Sea as well as through Turkey and Georgia.

According to the report, an Azerbaijani official said Israel and Turkey had been involved in "intensive negotiations through diplomatic channels that lasted for several days but were fruitless," and eventually Ankara refused to allow use of its airspace.

The rest of the Israeli delegation to the United Nations conference, which includes three ministers and dozens of officials, was present according to plan, and arrived in Azerbaijan on November 11. The Ynet report said the delegation arrived in Baku on commercial flights through Georgia.