US has 'historic responsibility' to ensure cease-fire in Gaza: Turkish President Erdogan

WASHINGTON

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday told his US counterpart that it is America's "historical responsibility" to ensure a permanent cease-fire in Gaza as soon as possible.

Erdogan and Joe Biden held a phone call to discuss Israel's attacks on Palestinian territories, especially Gaza, bilateral relations, as well as Sweden's NATO bid, Türkiye's Communications Directorate said.

The president said a cease-fire could be achieved quickly if the US withdrew its "unconditional support" for Israel.

Erdogan told Biden that the human tragedy in Gaza should be stopped, and warned that deepening and prolongation of Israel's attacks could have "negative regional and global consequences."

He underlined the need for the establishment of a guarantor mechanism, as suggested by Türkiye, to resolve the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Erdogan stressed that the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital based on the 1967 borders is "the most reasonable and permanent solution."

The leaders also discussed Ankara's bid to purchase F-16 fighter jets from the US.

Israel has bombarded the Gaza Strip from the air and land, imposed a siege and mounted a ground offensive in retaliation for a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7.

At least 18,787 Palestinians have since been killed and 50,897 others injured in the Israeli onslaught, according to Gaza’s health authorities.

The Israeli death toll in the Hamas attack stands at nearly 1,200, according to official figures.