Israel is considering shutting down its consulate in Istanbul, one of its oldest diplomatic missions, following a shooting near the building in April, according to an Israeli source speaking to Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Wednesday.
Israel's Embassy in Ankara will remain open, but still shorn of diplomatic personnel after their evacuation in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel by the Palestinian group Hamas and the subsequent Israeli offensive in Gaza that has killed at least 72,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, injured over 172,000 and caused massive destruction that affected 90% of civilian infrastructure.
Diplomats were likewise pulled from the Istanbul consulate, located in a business district of Türkiye's largest city, with both institutions staffed with Turkish personnel since.
"The issue is under discussion; no decision has been made," insisted the source, referring to plans to demolish the building housing the Istanbul consulate as part of earthquake preparation measures.
"Some argue these vacant premises, that belong to us, are costing us a lot of money," the source said.
