Set against Israel’s bombardment of Gaza during Israel’s “Operation Cast Lead,” which killed 1,200 Palestinians, Erdoğan challenged Israeli President Shimon Peres’ assertion that Israel was committed to peace and that Hamas was to blame for the war. Under Erdoğan’s tenure, Turkey has been one of Israel’s biggest buyers of advanced military technologies, and Israel imports around $6 billion each year from Turkey. Under Erdoğan’s tenure, Turkey has been one of Israel’s biggest buyers of advanced military technologies, and Israel imports around $6 billion each year from Turkey.