Turkey has sharply escalated its confrontation with Israel, announcing the arrest of a suspected Mossad agent and opening a criminal investigation into Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla over Yom Kippur.
The Turkish intelligence agency (MIT) said it detained Serkan Cicek, also known as Mohammed Fatih Keles, in “Operation Matron.”
According to Turkish reports, Cicek was allegedly recruited via WhatsApp by an officer identified as Faisal Rashid to track a pro-Palestinian activist in Basaksehir.
He was reported to have received $4,000 in cryptocurrency for four days of surveillance but failed to locate his target, and was subsequently caught when he attempted to enter a residential compound.
At the same time, Ankara has stepped up its response to Israel’s seizure of the Gaza-bound flotilla on Yom Kippur. In an overnight operation, the Israeli Navy intercepted 39 vessels carrying more than 400 activists, who were transferred to Ashdod Port for questioning and deportation.
Among the detainees were prominent international figures, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, Nelson Mandela’s grandson, members of the European Parliament, and delegates from several countries.
Turkey denounced the operation as “an act of terror that endangered innocent civilians.”
Istanbul’s chief prosecutor said a criminal probe had been opened against Israel, citing suspicions of kidnapping, vehicle theft, and property destruction.
The rhetoric in Ankara has grown more strident. Omer Celik, spokesman for the ruling AK Party, declared that Israel’s actions were “crimes against humanity” and branded the country “modern-day Nazis.” He demanded the “immediate release” of the 24 Turkish citizens and foreign activists detained at sea.
The latest developments follow a series of espionage cases in Turkey linked to Israel. In May, a court handed down prison sentences totaling nearly one hundred years against members of a family accused of operating a Mossad spy ring.