Former Ichilov Spokesman Reveals Israeli Doctor Saved Turkish President Erdogan's Life

Avi Shoshan, former spokesman for Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv, disclosed during a Channel 14 panel that an Israeli doctor was sent to Turkey to save President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's life after he was diagnosed with cancer. Shoshan claimed the mission was carried out at the request of the Mossad intelligence agency and with the approval of then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He refused to name the doctor but emphasized that Israel played a crucial role in Erdogan's survival.

Shoshan recounted that at the time of the intervention, he refrained from confirming the reports despite media pressure, maintaining secrecy about the operation. He criticized Erdogan for his current hostile rhetoric toward Jews, stating that Erdogan "lives and breathes thanks to a Jew, thanks to an Israeli, thanks to Benjamin Netanyahu and Dedi Barnea." The revelation came amid discussions about Erdogan's appearance at the NATO summit, with Shoshan suggesting that Israel's medical assistance was a significant factor in Erdogan's survival and current political presence.

This disclosure sheds light on a previously undisclosed episode of covert Israeli-Turkish cooperation involving high-level medical aid and intelligence coordination. It also highlights the complex and sometimes contradictory nature of the relationship between Israel and Turkey under Erdogan's leadership.