PARIS
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Saturday that Israel rejected the proposal of a long-term ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
"We were very close to reaching a ceasefire, but Israel rejected the proposal at the last moment," Davutoglu said following a major meeting in Paris with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Qatari Foreign Minister Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah.
The meeting came as Palestinian factions and Israel observed a 12-hour humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip on Saturday.
The pause began at 08:00 local time (05:00GMT).
Davutoglu added that Turkey would further increase its efforts for a long-term cease fire.
Since July 7, Israel has pummeled the Gaza Strip – from air, land and sea – with the ostensible aim of halting Palestinian rocket fire.
Around 1,000 Palestinians – mostly civilians – have been killed in devastating Israeli bombardments of the blockaded strip.
According to official Israeli figures, 40 Israelis – 37 soldiers and three civilians – have been killed since hostilities began.
Israel's operation "Protective Edge" is the self-proclaimed Jewish state's third major offensive against the densely-populated Gaza Strip, which is home to some 1.8 million Palestinians, within the last six years.
www.aa.com.tr/en
