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Ankara prosecutor’s office launches investigation into killing of 3 Turks at Israeli border

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The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into the killing of three Turkish nationals by an Israeli airstrike as they attempted to cross into Israel from Lebanon, the Gazete Duvar news website reported.

The prosecutor’s office announced the probe on Wednesday, confirming that the bodies of the three men — Hüseyin Kaya, Çınar Alp Baydenk and Sezer Özdemir — had been repatriated to Turkey, where autopsies are underway in their respective hometowns. The statement added that once the forensic examinations are completed, relevant reports will be submitted to the prosecutor’s office for further review.

The Israeli media had previously reported that the country’s forces carried out an airstrike on January 11 on three unidentified individuals attempting to breach the border. The incident initially drew little attention until Turkish officials confirmed that the deceased were Turkish citizens. Turkey’s embassies in Beirut and Tel Aviv had engaged local authorities to verify their identities, leading to the confirmation that they were part of a larger group attempting to enter Israel illegally.

According to Turkish officials, approximately 20 people were part of a human smuggling operation that facilitated illegal border crossings into Israel. Smugglers reportedly guided them using live location tracking to avoid Israeli patrols. The exact circumstances of the three men’s movements before the strike remain unclear, but Turkish authorities have confirmed that their families have filed criminal complaints against the alleged traffickers.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned the strike, calling it an “unlawful attack” that disregarded human rights.

While Turkey has vowed to hold those responsible accountable, the case also highlights the growing trend of Turkish nationals attempting to enter Israel illegally, often seeking jobs in such sectors as construction and agriculture.

Reports from international human rights organizations and the US State Department have previously detailed how some foreign workers, including Turks, face exploitative conditions in Israel, with traffickers using coercion and debt bondage to control them.

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