ANKARA
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has dismissed claims that Turkey and Qatar were sabotaging Egypt's proposal for a ceasefire to end the Gaza conflict.
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman accused Turkey and Qatar on Wednesday of sabotaging the ceasefire brokered by Egypt. The latest Israel-Hamas conflict has claimed more than 220 Palestinian lives and left over 1,500 others wounded in Israel's week-long military operation.
"I have never taken the Israeli foreign minister seriously concerning the Gaza conflict, because he has a certain stance on this issue," Ahmet Davutoglu said.
"Israel is not only invading Palestine but also he (Lieberman) is saying that Palestinian people need to be evacuated or exiled. If this or Israel's airstrikes which have killed children in Gaza are not sabotage then what is? Turkey's defending the rights of Palestinian people?"
He reiterated that Turkey always supported any ceasefire proposed by Egypt to end the Gaza conflict but added that the ceasefire need to be "sustainable".
Davutoglu also accused Israel of sabotaging Palestine's unity government, unveiled in June following reconciliation between Hamas and its rival Fatah.
"Palestine's unity is disturbing for Israel," he added.
He also threw support behind Hamas' ceasefire conditions including the release of prisoners, lifting the blockade on Gaza and the reopening the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt.
The crossing is Gaza's only window to the outside world not under Israeli control but Egypt generally only opens the crossing for exceptional cases and for limited periods.
Gaza-based militants have continued to fire rockets at Israel – some of which have reached Tel Aviv. One Israeli was killed as a result of rocket fire from Gaza.
The operation is Israel's third major offensive against Gaza, home to 1.8 million Palestinians, in the last six years.
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