Türkiye has firmly denied allegations that it granted overflight permission to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s aircraft, as speculation mounted over his planned visit to Azerbaijan on May 7.

In a statement issued Saturday, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Oncu Keceli categorically rejected the claims, stating that neither permission was granted nor any formal request submitted by Israeli authorities. “The claims that overflight permission was granted to the Israeli prime minister’s plane are absolutely untrue,” Keceli said. “No such request has been conveyed to us either.”

The allegations emerged amid heightened scrutiny of Netanyahu’s international travel following the issuance of an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The warrant accuses Netanyahu of war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip. As a result, reports have suggested that Netanyahu is restricting his air travel to countries perceived as politically aligned or safe, avoiding jurisdictions where he might face legal risks.

Türkiye denies allegations of overflight permission for Israeli PM Netanyahu’s plane

Türkiye's Airspace ban on Israeli Aircraft

Public attention in Türkiye intensified when unverified reports circulated claiming that Netanyahu’s route to Azerbaijan would include a passage through Turkish airspace. The claims gained traction on social media and triggered widespread criticism from pro-Palestinian groups and political commentators in the country.

In response to the growing controversy, Türkiye’s Directorate of Communications Center for Countering Disinformation (DMM) also released a public denial, echoing the Foreign Ministry’s statement. “There is absolutely no such situation as Turkish airspace being opened for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Azerbaijan on May 7,” the DMM posted on social media platform X.

The DMM further emphasized that Türkiye’s airspace remains closed to Israeli aircraft, citing the government’s firm stance against Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza. “Türkiye has closed its airspace to Israeli aircraft as a result of Israel’s genocidal policies against Gaza,” the statement read. “Türkiye continues to stand by the just cause of the Palestinian people. Please do not give credence to baseless claims.”

Ankara imposed the airspace ban in early 2024 as part of a broader set of diplomatic measures protesting Israel’s military actions and humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territories. The policy remains in effect and has been reaffirmed by Turkish officials on several occasions.

May 03, 2025 09:04 PM GMT+03:00