Turkey has recalled its ambassadors to the United States and Israel and asked the Israeli ambassador in Ankara to leave “for a while” in formal protest of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip killed by Israeli forces while demonstrating against the US administration’s decision to relocate its embassy to Jerusalem.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is in the United Kingdom on an official visit, termed the Gaza killings “genocide” and called Israel a “terror state.” Ankara has declared three days of official mourning and offered to fly in wounded Palestinians for treatment. Erdogan is widely hailed in the Muslim world as one of the most vocal champions of the Palestinians. Arab heavyweights Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan have been visibly more restrained not least because of their aversion to the Muslim Brotherhood-inspired Hamas, which governs Gaza. Erdogan called US President Donald Trump’s decision to move the embassy to Jerusalem a “mistake” and “violation of international law.” Washington, he argued, has thus forfeited its role as an honest broker in the Middle East peace process. Turkish government spokesman Bekir Bozdag said, “The blood of innocent Palestinians is on the hands of the United States.”

Tensions between Turkey and Israel continued to escalate as Israel told Turkey's de facto ambassador in Jerusalem, Gurcan Turkoglu, to go home. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took to Twitter to air his anger. He called Erdogan one of Hamas’ “biggest supporters” and charged that there was “no doubt” the Turkish leader “well understands terrorism and slaughter.” He added, “I suggest he not preach morality to us.”

Erdogan riposted, “Netanyahu is the PM of an apartheid state that has occupied a defenseless people’s lands for 60+ years in violation of UN resolutions. He has the blood of Palestinians on his hands and can’t cover up crimes by attacking Turkey. Want a lesson in humanity? Read the 10 commandments.”