Türkiye calls on all actors in region to make serious push for Mideast peace

By Diyar Guldogan

Amid tension and conflict between Israel and Palestine, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday called on all influential actors in the region to make a serious push for peace in the Mideast.

"We call on all influential actors in the region to assume responsibility for the establishment of peace, acting on the principle that 'there are no losers in a just peace'," Erdogan told a news conference with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer in the capital Ankara.

Erdogan said any step that could escalate tension, cause more bloodshed, or exacerbate the problems in the region must be avoided.

"Adding fuel to the fire, targeting civilians and civilian settlements in particular will benefit no one," he added.

Erdogan said he would also speak later Tuesday to Russian President Vladimir Putin and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres about the situation, adding: "We will continue talks with Gulf countries."

Hamas on Saturday shot a barrage of rockets and sent dozens of fighters to attack Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip.

Hamas said the surprise attack was in response to Israeli violations of the flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem and growing violence by Israeli settlers.

Israel retaliated with a series of airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and imposed a total blockade on the territory, home to nearly 2.3 million people.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 830 Palestinians have so far been killed and 4,250 others injured in Israeli bombardment of the strip.

More than 1,000 Israelis have been killed, according to Israeli daily Haaretz.