Turkey's Erdoğan engages regional leaders in discussions on Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Turkish President Erdoğan talked on the phone with leaders from Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt and discussed the ongoing developments in the conflict between Israel and Palestinians, as stated by the presidency's office.
Reuters & Duvar English
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Oct. 9 discussed the latest developments in fighting between Israel and Palestinians in phone conversations with the leaders of Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Qatar and Egypt, Erdoğan's office said.
Erdoğan earlier said in a televised address after chairing a cabinet meeting that Turkey is ready to act as a mediator to end the conflict if the two parties make such a proposition, including hostage swaps.
The Turkish presidency said separately in a post on social media network X that Erdoğan told Israeli President Isaac Herzog that any steps that collectively harmed the people of Gaza would increase suffering in the region.
In a phone call with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, Erdoğan said that Turkey was making every effort to end the fighting and ensure calm in the region, his office said.
In separate conversations with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani of Qatar, Erdoğan discussed regional tensions.
"We believe that there will be no peace in the region without an independent, sovereign Palestine," Erdoğan said in the televised address.
Erdoğan urged Israel to stop bombing Palestinian lands and Palestine to stop harassing Israeli civilian settlements.
Turkey is making necessary preparations to send humanitarian aid to Gaza, Erdoğan added.
After the "Al-Aqsa Flood" operation carried out by the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, an intense conflict has been continuing in the region since Oct. 7.
Israeli TV channels said the death toll from the Hamas attack had climbed to 900, with at least 2,600 injured. Gaza's Health Ministry said at least 687 Palestinians had been killed and 3,726 wounded in Israeli air strikes on the blockaded enclave.