A cross-party declaration condemning Israeli’s invasion of Gaza has been issued by the Turkish Grand National Assembly.
Lawmakers from all parties signed the document on Friday. "We strongly condemn the ongoing Israeli attacks on Palestinians in Gaza," the declaration said.
Demanding international action to put a ceasefire in place, it added: "We see the killing of children and women and innocent civilians as an unacceptable and inexcusable war crime."
Party chairmen Akif Hamzacebi, of the Republican People’s Party, Oktay Vural, of the Nationalist Movement Party, and Idrıs Bayulken, of the People's Democratic Party, asked for Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu to keep the parliament members informed about further Israeli attacks.
Former culture minister and independent deputy Ertugrul Gunay said a committee of lawmakers should go to Gaza. He said: "Turkey should announce its solidarity with the Palestinians to the world."
On Thursday evening Israeli ground troops went into Gaza in the third major offensive in the last six years.
Friday’s declaration followed an earlier announcement by the Republican People’s Party and the Nationalist Movement Party strongly condemning the incursion, following more than a week of bombardment.
Turkey will call for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the UN Commission on Human Rights over the Israeli attack.
Nationalist deputy Ozcan Yeniceri called for Muslim countries to review commercial, economic and energy ties with Israel.
The Palestinian death toll in Gaza has risen to 271.
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