On August 2, Turkey suddenly blocked access to the Instagram social network. Users of the country can now go to the platform only through VPN services, reports Reuters with reference to the Turkish infotechnology regulator. The reasons and terms of this ban have not yet been disclosed, and the Instagram mobile application is also unavailable to download.
The media suggests that the blocking may be associated with the death of Ismail Hania, a Hamas leader, who was killed in Tehran on July 31. Earlier, the representative of the Turkish Presidential Administration Recep Tayip Erdogan, Fakhrettin Altun, expressed threats against possible measures against Instagram because the platform could interfere with publications that expressed their condolences in connection with the killing of Khania.
On August 2, Turkey was declared a day of mourning for Ismail Khania. Turkey maintained a close relationship with Hamas, which was recognized as a terrorist group in the European Union, the US, Israel and other countries. In April this year, President Erdogan met with Khania and called Hamas a "resistance group".
As for the incident itself, Ismail Haniya was killed in Tehran's residence on July 31. The Saudi edition of Al Hadath reported that his house was attacked by a controlled missile, and suggested that Israel could stand on the attack. CNN, referring to his sources, claims that Haniah died from a bomb embedded in a guest house where he stopped.
The death of Hana has caused the alarm of experts who are afraid of the possible aggravation of the conflict between Iran and Israel. The son of the deceased leader, Abdul Salam, stated that the Palestinians would continue the struggle for their freedom.
