Turkey Moves to Revoke Citizenship from the Nationals Involved in Israeli Military Offensive

 According to the bill tabled by the Turkish Parliament, the citizenship of those Turkish nationals who were involved with the Israeli military in the operations in Gaza, which the bill refers to as genocide, can be withdrawn. The proposed legislation also aims to seize it, or their assets, a form of property belonging to them. 

 Background 

 It is to be noted that the Huda Par (Free Cause) party submitted the bill, which Zekeriya Yapicioglu initiated. Yapicioglu quoted the media sources and alleged that 4 thousand Turkish-Israeli citizens participated in the operation of the Israeli army against Palestinians. He said that the real supporters of the forced conscription in the Israeli military living in Turkey could be more. He underlined the following, “We cannot remain indifferent to the fact that some of the duals engaged in war crimes, serve in the Israeli forces, and come back to Turkey and live their lives as if nothing occurred. 

 Serkan Ramanli, a member of the Free Cause Party, articulated the bill’s intent: “We think Turkish-Israeli dual citizens who take part in the Israeli army and become crimes against humanity perpetrators should have their citizenship terminated and their property seized,” he also accused the Ministry of Justice for being inactive saying “Why have we been waiting for nine months?” 

 According to the formulated draft law, the persons of the dual nationality of Israel and Turkey who were involved in the fighting in the Gaza Strip would be invited to appear in the hearing of the Courts in Turkey within a 90-day term. Non-compliance might result in the withdrawal of Turkish citizenship and properties in Turkey will be seized. This is one of many actions in a Turkey campaign to arrest and prosecute IDF individuals relating to the Gaza conflict and focus on those with Turkish nationality. 

 The approval of this bill in the first reading shows an apparent increase in Turkey’s approach to the Israeli military operations in Gaza. It can be seen as Turkey’s increasing interest in phantom processes it deems as war crimes and genocide.  

 The prospects of this legislation exacerbating the relations between Turkey and Israel are pretty accurate. In doing so, it also brings to light Turkey’s stance in international law concerning genocide and crimes against humanity. In this case, the international community will and should take an interest in the ensuing bill with more reactions ranging from supportive of the Israeli military actions to hostile. 

 The first reading of this contentious law by the Turkish Parliament can be a significant point in Turkey’s juridical and international relation to the Gaza conflict. This is why Turkey opposes dual citizenship, where people are serving in the Israeli military by wanting to strip them of their citizenship and confiscate their assets; it also stands tall in its fight for international human rights and reaffirms its position on pursuing individuals involved in war crimes. 

 This legislation example speaks to Turkey’s capacity to face sophisticated legal issues in the international legal sphere. It is part of a trend where more responsibility and oversight are being demanded and given to any action occurring in the conflict theater.