Turkey Detains 15 in Mossad Espionage Case, Straining Israel Relations

A court in Istanbul has ordered 15 out of 34 individuals, suspected of spying for Israel, to be jailed pending trial. The suspects are accused of espionage activities against foreign nationals in Turkey, including Palestinians and Syrians, allegedly on behalf of Israel's Mossad. This development escalates existing tensions between Turkey and Israel amidst the ongoing conflict with Hamas. Turkish President Erdogan has strongly criticized Israel's actions in Gaza and has warned of serious consequences if Israel targets Hamas officials in Turkey. The two countries had normalized diplomatic relations in 2022, but ties have since deteriorated due to the conflict.