Part 3/7:
With Erdoğan's rise to power in 2002, Turkey's foreign policy began leaning more towards the Arab Middle East. Initial attempts to maintain a friendly relationship with Israel were soon overshadowed by an increasingly vocal criticism of Israeli actions, particularly regarding the Palestinian situation. The 2010 Gaza flotilla incident marked a turning point; an Israeli military raid on a Turkish convoy headed for Gaza resulted in fatalities and widespread condemnation in Turkey, leading to diplomatic strains.
Efforts to mend ties continued sporadically with intermittent apologies and compensation agreements, yet each diplomatic thaw was short-lived, often crumbling under the weight of renewed conflicts in Gaza and rising tensions in the region.