Turkey denies role in assassination plot on Israeli minister

Turkey has strongly denied involvement in a purported plot to assassinate Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, calling the accusations “disinformation,” according to Middle East Eye on September 5th.

The Turkish Presidency’s Centre for Countering Disinformation said the allegations had been “fed to the Israeli media” as if they were recent, but the incident actually occurred eight months ago. 

Israel’s Shin Bet security agency announced on September 3rd that four suspects linked to the alleged plot had been arrested. According to investigators, the group had intended to target Ben Gvir during the Jewish holiday season, when he was expected to attend prayers.

Ynet reported on September 4th that one of the suspects had moved to Turkey, where he came into contact with Hamas. The suspects purportedly received roughly $2,000 from Turkish contacts, to purchase equipment for the operation. It is suggested that the plan was coordinated with Hamas leadership based in Turkey.

Turkish officials, however, insist that Ankara only hosts Hamas’s political leadership and does not give any military support to the militant group. A Hamas source acknowledged that Turkey restricts the activities of Hamas members and cautions that violations could lead to deportation.

The Turkish Centre for Countering Disinformation said that the focus on Turkey is an attempt to discredit its recent policies on Palestine.

Indeed, relations between Israel and Turkey have been deteriorating. Since suspending trade with Israel in 2024, Ankara has escalated its measures. On August 25th Turkey called for Israel’s suspension from the UN General Assembly over its actions in Gaza. Turkey has also enforced restrictions on Israeli-owned and tied vessels, stopping them from docking at Turkey’s ports. 

These steps follow Ankara’s announcement of six sanctions against Israel, in line with The Hague Group’s joint statement from the Emergency Conference on Palestine, which took place in Bogotá. In 2024, Turkey also joined South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing Israel of carrying out a genocide.

Since then, Turkey has adopted an increasingly uncompromising stance toward Israel, using global platforms to create alliances against Israel’s war on Gaza.

Middle East Eye, Ynet, Maghrebi.org