Turkey urges Gaza ceasefire in talks with Egypt and Jordan
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Turkey, which has recently intensified its criticism of Israel amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, engaged in discussions regarding the urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held separate conversations with his counterparts from Egypt and Jordan on Sunday, focusing on the situation in Gaza.
Turkey has been advocating for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and has voiced sharp criticism of Israel as the crisis in Gaza has escalated. Notably, Turkey hosts members of the Palestinian group Hamas, a stance that sets it apart from the United States, the European Union, and some Gulf states, as it does not categorise Hamas as a terrorist organisation.
During these conversations, Fidan, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry exchanged views on potential steps to halt attacks targeting Gaza's civilian population and to urgently secure a ceasefire. They also discussed efforts to ensure the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Turkey has repeatedly accused Israel of targeting civilians, committing war crimes, and violating international law, while Israel maintains that its actions are directed at Hamas, not civilians, and alleges that Hamas uses residents as human shields.
President Tayyip Erdogan, speaking in the Black Sea province of Rize, emphasised Turkey's duty to stop "the massacre in Gaza" and hold Israel accountable.
He stated that it is Turkey's responsibility to protect Palestinians from Israel's actions and to prevent the ongoing violence in Gaza. Erdogan affirmed that Turkey is actively engaged in these efforts and will continue to support its Palestinian counterparts in Gaza.
Previously, Turkey had mentioned ongoing talks with Hamas regarding the release of hostages captured during an assault on Israel in October. However, no public progress has been disclosed on that front. In addition to its diplomatic efforts, Turkey has sent over 200 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Gaza through Egypt.
Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan is scheduled to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Ankara on Monday for discussions related to the situation in Gaza.