He issued this warning during an Oct. 9 phone call with Israeli President Isaac Herzog. The Turkish leader's call came two days after Hamas terrorists attacked a music festival in Israel on Oct. 7, killing hundreds. Following the attack, Israel declared a state of war and proceeded to launch military offensives against Palestine.
"Any step that could harm the people of Gaza collectively and indiscriminately will further increase the suffering and spiral of violence in the region," Erdogan said in a statement about his phone call with Herzog. He also stressed that it was crucial to act with common sense, and called for the swift restoration of peace as doing so is of great significant for the entire region's welfare. (Related: Turkish president calls for Muslim world to UNITE against Israel.)
According to Erdogan, the Israel-Palestine war is subject to a moral and ethical code that both sides "are obliged to comply with." He also called on Jerusalem to stop bombing Palestinian areas and appealed to Palestinians to end their harassment of civilian settlements in Israel. Erdogan continued: "As we always say, 'There are no losers in a just peace.'"
"The destruction of Gaza by air and ground attacks, the bombing of mosques and the deaths of innocent children, women, elderly and civilians are never acceptable."
Erdogan had also reached out to Palestine Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, telling him that Ankara had been making every attempt to end the conflicts and assure peace in the region. Aside from Herzog and Abbas, the Turkish president had also talked with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the emir of Qatar.
Turkey willing to MEDIATE in Israel-Hamas conflict
Erdogan stressed Turkey would continue its efforts to end the war and guarantee lasting peace in the region. He also offered to mediate in the Israel-Hamas conflict, stating that Turkey continues to step up its diplomatic efforts.
"I would like to state that Turkey is ready for any kind of mediation, including prisoner exchanges if the parties request it. We continue to step up our diplomatic contacts, which we have been maintaining for a while and have intensified even more in the last three days."
Turkey is making essential preparations to provide humanitarian aid materials that the Gaza Strip will need amid Israel's counter-offensive against Hamas.
According to Erdogan, Turkey's stance concerning the issue has been clear from the very beginning and noted that Turkey recognized Israel in 1949. Erdogan also mentioned that the two countries continue to have diplomatic ties, based on a report by the state-run Anadolu Agency.
"We believe that there will be no peace in the region without the establishment of an independent sovereign state of Palestine with geographical integrity, within the 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as its capital," he said.
The Turkish leader also emphasized that problems in the region cannot be decided by "constantly harassing the Palestinian people, disregarding the safety of their life and property, seizing their homes and lands, destroying their infrastructure and preventing their development."
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