ANKARA
Turkey Wednesday strongly condemned Israel over the recent death of a senior Palestinian official.
Ziad Abu Ein suffocated to death Wednesday when he got exposed to Israeli tear gas used to disperse a Palestinian protest in the northern West Bank town of Turmus Ayya .
Abu Ein was a high-ranking Palestine Liberation Organization official, whose portfolio was equivalent to that of a government minister. He was also in charge of the Israeli settlements file at the organization.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Turkey strongly condemned Israel for the incident that happened because of maltreatment by Israeli soldiers.
“We expect an objective and extensive investigation, and want those responsible to be brought to justice," the statement added.
"This sad incident is a result of Israeli invasion on Palestinian land," the statement also said.
"Palestinians have been left stateless, landless in their own home for many years because of the maltreatment and this is unacceptable," it added.
Dozens of other demonstrators had suffered injuries in the incident, including temporary asphyxiation after inhaling excessive amounts of teargas fired by Israeli army troops.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas denounced the Israeli army attack as barbaric and declared three days of mourning over the incident.
www.aa.com.tr/en
