Turkey Blocks Israeli President from COP29

Turkey has denied Israeli President Isaac Herzog's request to fly over its airspace to attend the COP29 climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, leading him to cancel his trip citing 'security concerns.' Turkish officials confirmed the airspace denial, which was attributed to escalating tensions following Israel's military operations in Gaza. This incident underscores the deteriorating relations between Turkey and Israel, which have been strained since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and subsequent Israeli actions in Gaza. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has publicly severed diplomatic ties with Israel, stating there will be no restoration of relations in the future. Meanwhile, the rest of the Israeli delegation managed to reach Baku via commercial flights through Georgia. The ongoing conflict and Turkey's actions reflect a significant diplomatic rift between the two nations, further complicated by historical grievances over the Palestinian issue.