In a recent development, a court in Istanbul has ordered the detention of 15 out of 34 individuals suspected of spying for Israel. The move comes amidst escalating tensions between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

According to Turkey's Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc, the suspects were apprehended on Tuesday for allegedly planning activities that involved reconnaissance, assault, and kidnapping of foreign nationals residing in Turkey. Social media posts by Minister Tunc revealed that 26 of the suspects have been formally accused of committing political or military espionage on behalf of Israeli intelligence agencies.

State-run Anadolu news agency reported that Israel's foreign intelligence agency, Mossad, had reportedly recruited Palestinians and Syrian nationals in Turkey as part of their operation against foreigners residing in the country. Anadolu cited a prosecution document stating that the operation specifically targeted Palestinian nationals and their families in connection with the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Among the allegations, one of the suspects is said to have collected information on Palestinian patients who had recently been transferred to Turkey for medical treatment. Turkey has been accommodating numerous Palestinian patients from Gaza since the commencement of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The suspects were apprehended during raids conducted at 57 locations in Istanbul and seven other provinces. Previously, the head of Israel's domestic security agency, Shin Bet, had remarked that his organization was prepared to target Hamas in countries like Lebanon, Turkey, and Qatar.

Turkey's President Erdogan, in response to Israel's threats of attacking Hamas officials on Turkish soil, issued a warning of "serious consequences." Prior to the Israel-Hamas war, Turkey and Israel had normalized their ties in 2022 by reappointing ambassadors, marking a significant improvement after years of strained relations.

However, the recent conflict caused a swift deterioration in relations, with Ankara becoming one of the most vocal critics of Israel's military actions in Gaza. Israeli diplomats first withdrew from Turkey due to security concerns, followed by a reciprocal decision from Turkey due to "increasingly harsh statements" made by Turkish officials. Erdogan's initial response to the Israel-Hamas conflict was relatively restrained, but he has since intensified his condemnation of Israel's actions, accusing them of verging on "genocide."

President Erdogan has also called for Netanyahu to be prosecuted for "war crimes," drawing comparisons to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. It is worth noting that Erdogan's government has previously hosted several Hamas officials and expressed support for the group, which is deemed a terrorist organization by the United States, Israel, and the European Union.

As tensions continue to rise between Turkish and Israeli leaders, the court's order to detain suspected spies for Israel further fuels the strained diplomatic relations between the two nations. The ongoing conflict in Gaza shows no signs of abating, which may have further consequences for the already fragile ties between Turkey and Israel.