Turkey blocked Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s flight to the COP29 summit in Azerbaijan, citing opposition to Israel’s actions in Gaza. Erdogan confirmed that Herzog was denied use of Turkish airspace, forcing him to cancel his visit.
The denial was driven by Turkey’s disapproval of Israel’s war with Hamas. A direct flight from Israel to Azerbaijan would have needed to pass through Turkish or Iranian airspace, which Turkey refused.
This move follows Turkey’s ongoing tensions with Israel, which have worsened since the October 7 Hamas attacks. Despite efforts to improve relations, Erdogan has criticized Israeli leadership and supported Hamas.
The cancellation highlights the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region, with Turkey remaining a vocal critic of Israel’s military actions and offering support to groups opposed to Israeli policies.
