Israel has told its citizens to leave Turkey immediately amid fears of reprisal attacks after the deadly strike on a hospital in the Gaza Strip, a consular spokesperson confirmed to AFP.

“All Israelis staying in Turkey must leave as soon as possible,” Israel’s National Security Council announced late on Tuesday.

“I can confirm that the travel warning of the National Security Council to Turkey has been raised to 4, the highest level,” the spokesperson told AFP.

Thousands joined protests in Istanbul and the capital Ankara outside Israel’s diplomatic missions to condemn the attack. Turkish police detained five protesters for attempting to sneak into the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, the governor’s office said.