Israel Summons Turkish Envoy Over Half-mast Salute for Hamas Leader

Israel Katz, Foreign Minister to the United Nations speaks during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, at UN headquarters in New York, US, March 11, 2024. REUTERS/David 'Dee' Delgado/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Israel Katz, Foreign Minister to the United Nations speaks during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, at UN headquarters in New York, US, March 11, 2024. REUTERS/David 'Dee' Delgado/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
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Israel Summons Turkish Envoy Over Half-mast Salute for Hamas Leader

Israel Katz, Foreign Minister to the United Nations speaks during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, at UN headquarters in New York, US, March 11, 2024. REUTERS/David 'Dee' Delgado/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Israel Katz, Foreign Minister to the United Nations speaks during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, at UN headquarters in New York, US, March 11, 2024. REUTERS/David 'Dee' Delgado/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights

Israel's foreign ministry summoned the deputy Turkish ambassador for a reprimand on Friday after Türkiye's embassy in Tel Aviv lowered its flag to half mast in response to the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh.

"The State of Israel will not tolerate expressions of mourning for a murderer like Ismail Haniyeh," Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in a statement.

Haniyeh was killed in Tehran while there to attend the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Israel has not made any official claim of responsibility for his death but Iran and allies including Hamas and Hezbollah have accused Israel of the assassination and vowed revenge, Reuters reported.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan declared Friday, Aug 2, a day of national mourning for Haniyeh.

Tensions between Israel and Türkiye have risen sharply since the start of the war in Gaza, in which more than 39,000 Palestinians have been killed.



No 'Tangible' Terror Threat Detected since Start of Paris Olympics

France has been deploying around 30,000 police officers each day to keep the Olympics safe ( The AP)
France has been deploying around 30,000 police officers each day to keep the Olympics safe ( The AP)
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No 'Tangible' Terror Threat Detected since Start of Paris Olympics

France has been deploying around 30,000 police officers each day to keep the Olympics safe ( The AP)
France has been deploying around 30,000 police officers each day to keep the Olympics safe ( The AP)

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on Friday that authorities have not detected any “tangible" terror threats during the first week of the Olympic Games, during which about 200 people have been arrested by security forces for various crimes.

Darmanin released the first official statistics regarding the Paris Olympics’ security during a visit to a police station in Saint-Denis, a northern suburb of Paris home to two major venues: the Stade de France and the Olympic Aquatics Center, The AP reported.

He said there were about 200 people arrested since July 26, including 180 taken into police custody.

They include some “individuals” who “could have” committed attacks, including on the day of the opening ceremony, Darmanin said.

Yet, he added, “there wasn’t and as of now we aren’t aware of any tangible threat from (terror) organizations. ... There is no organized attack being planned that we are aware of.”

Darmanin also stressed said there were 24% less theft associated with violence as well as 10% less car theft in Paris and in the neighboring suburban areas.

“Overall petty crime was largely reduced probably due to the hugely increased police and gendarme presence in the public areas,” he said.

Darmanin is staying on in a caretaker role at the interior ministry until a new government is formed in the wake of legislative elections earlier this month.

France has been deploying around 30,000 police officers each day to keep the Olympics safe, with a peak of 45,000 for the opening ceremony on the Seine River.

Security forces are also backed up by a 10,000-strong contingent of soldiers that has set up the largest military camp in Paris since World War II, from which soldiers should be able to reach any of the city’s Olympic venues within 30 minutes.