Israel is considering closing its consulate in Constantinople—one of the first it established in the world, which has been operating since 1949—an Israeli source told Agence France-Presse today.

Israel’s embassy in Ankara will remain open, but without Israeli diplomatic staff, who were withdrawn at the same time as those at the consulate shortly after Hamas attacked Israeli territory on October 7, 2023.

The embassy and consulate, located in Constantinople’s business district, are currently operating only with Turkish employees.

“The matter is under discussion”

“The matter is under discussion; no decision has been taken,” said the source, who also referred to plans to demolish the building housing the consulate as part of seismic safety measures. “Some argue that these empty spaces, which belong to us, are costing us dearly,” he added.

On April 7, there was a shootout near the building, for which no one claimed responsibility. One of the gunmen was killed and two police guards were slightly wounded. Authorities blamed “a terrorist organization that instrumentalizes religion,” without further elaboration.

Israeli embassies evacuated

No Israeli diplomat is currently on Turkish soil, and Israeli embassies in the region were evacuated—not only in Turkey but also in other countries—for security reasons after October 7, 2023, the source told Agence France-Presse.

Since the start of the Gaza war, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has made increasingly harsh statements against Israel and its Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he has often referred to as “Nazi” and “genocidal.”

Turkey is represented in Israel by a chargé d’affaires after the last acting ambassador retired.

Tense relations until 2016

Turkey’s Jewish community currently numbers around 15,000 members, down from about 55,000 in the 1950s.

Turkey was the first Muslim-majority country to recognize the State of Israel in 1949. The two countries restored diplomatic relations in 2016 after a six-year rupture following the deadly Israeli raid on the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, part of a Gaza-bound flotilla.

A new flotilla that had sailed from Turkey—the third since 2023—was intercepted by the Israeli military on Monday.