Turkish president condemns Israel’s renewed attacks on Gaza

ISTANBUL

In separate phone calls with his Finnish counterpart and Dutch prime minister, the Turkish president Tuesday condemned Israel’s renewed attacks on Gaza.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan held phone calls with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof to discuss bilateral ties, as well as regional and global issues, according to Türkiye's Communications Directorate.

During his call with Stubb, Erdogan said Tel Aviv's renewed attacks on the Gaza Strip are "unacceptable."

The Turkish president also urged the international community to say “stop” to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's genocide policy, stressing the importance of restoring the ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible.

About the ongoing Moscow-Kyiv war, Erdogan said Ankara continues its efforts to end the war through a just and lasting peace, adding that Türkiye expects Russia to accept the ceasefire call.

On bilateral relations with Finland, he said Ankara is fully committed to deepening cooperation with Helsinki and will continue to work on developing relations in many areas, particularly in the defense industry and counter-terrorism.

During the phone call between the Turkish president and the Dutch premier, Erdogan said Israel's genocide policy should not be allowed, and Schoof urged “all parties (to) respect the (Israel-Hamas) ceasefire and the agreement on the release of the hostages,” noting that the reports coming out of Gaza were “alarming.”

The Turkish and Dutch leaders also discussed European security and the war in Ukraine, with Erdogan emphasizing that a peace process between Ukraine and Russia cannot be successful with an understanding that excludes one of the two countries.

According to Schoof, “the importance of providing unwavering support in the struggle against the Russian aggressor” was critical and that Türkiye “can help contribute to security guarantees, which will be a key condition for stable and lasting peace in Ukraine.”

On Ankara-Amsterdam ties, Erdogan emphasized steps to increase bilateral cooperation, particularly in the fields of trade and economy.

The Israeli army pounded the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, killing at least 404 people and injuring hundreds of others, breaking the ceasefire agreement with the Palestinian group Hamas that took effect on Jan. 19.

Images from Gaza showed that the majority of the victims were civilians, including women and children, whose homes were bombed during the night.

More than 48,500 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and over 112,000 others injured in a brutal Israeli military campaign in Gaza since October 2023.

Last November the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.