Breaking Update
Israel Confirms Istanbul Consulate Was Unstaffed During Incident
Israel's Foreign Ministry confirmed its Istanbul consulate was unstaffed during a shooting incident that killed three suspected attackers and wounded two police.
Jerusalem, 7 April, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The Israeli Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem said that a shooting earlier today outside the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul is being investigated, and confirmed that the mission is currently unstaffed. The incident occurred outside the consulate in the city’s Beşiktaş district.
It is still unclear whether the consulate itself was the target. The mission has been closed for at least two years and is believed to be unstaffed, according to local community reports cited by Israeli media.
Turkish media reported that three people, whom they say were the attackers, were killed, and two police officers were wounded. Turkey’s Justice Ministry said Justice Minister Akin Güler assigned three prosecutors to investigate. Reuters footage showed a police officer drawing his weapon and taking cover as gunfire erupted, while later TV images displayed a heavy police presence around the area.
Israel removed its diplomatic personnel from the consulate on October 19, 2023, due to major security concerns.
