Erdogan Calls on Middle East to Pressure U.S. Into Pushing for Israel Ceasefire

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Erdogan Calls on Middle East to Pressure U.S. Into Pushing for Israel Ceasefire

(AFP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday known as for stress on the United States to cease Israel’s offensive in Gaza, however mentioned there can be no settlement until Washington accepted the enclave as Palestinian land.

Erdogan returned from a summit on Saturday of Arab and Muslim leaders within the Saudi capital Riyadh, which condemned Israeli forces’ “barbaric actions” in Gaza with out approving concrete punitive measures.

He is due to go to Germany on Friday and plans to journey to Egypt and host Iran’s president within the coming weeks.

“We should hold talks with Egypt and the Gulf countries, and pressure the United States,” Erdogan instructed Turkish reporters on board his return flight from Riyadh.

“The US should increase its pressure on Israel. The West should increase pressure on Israel… It’s vital for us to secure a ceasefire,” he mentioned.

Erdogan, who was on a visit to a northeastern Turkish village when US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Ankara on November 5, didn’t rule out a gathering with President Joe Biden.

“The most important country that needs to be involved is the United States, which has influence on Israel,” Erdogan mentioned.

But he mentioned he wouldn’t name Biden.

Blinken “has just been here (in Turkey). I guess Biden will host us from now on. It would not be suitable for me to call Biden,” he mentioned.

Erdogan mentioned the US should settle for Gaza as Palestinian land.

“We cannot agree with Biden if he approaches (the conflict) by seeing Gaza as the land of occupying settlers or Israel, rather than the land of the Palestinian people,” he mentioned.

Turkey Recalls Ambassador from Israel, Cuts Contact with Netanyahuhttps://t.co/lGb6sJbt59

— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) November 4, 2023

Turkey has been an more and more vocal critic of Israel’s offensive in Gaza, which was triggered after Hamas militants staged an October 7 assault into Israel which killed round 1,200 individuals, largely civilians, in accordance to the newest Israeli figures.

Israel’s relentless marketing campaign in response has killed greater than 11,000 individuals, additionally largely civilians, in accordance to the newest figures from the well being ministry in Hamas-run Gaza.

In one other speech in Istanbul on Sunday, Erdogan vented fury at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in feedback broadcast dwell on Turkish tv.

“Hey Netanyahu, these are your good days, more different days are awaiting you… Netanyahu you should know that you’re leaving,” Erdogan mentioned, after beforehand labelling the Israeli chief “no longer someone we can talk to”.

Who desires to inform him? https://t.co/YkDD8AjEb1

— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) October 25, 2023

Erdogan will meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz subsequent week.

Turkey is technically a candidate for eventual EU membership and, even when this appears a distant prospect, Erdogan’s portrayal of Hamas militants as “liberators” — which differs sharply from the bloc’s — has prompted unease.

It additionally stands in stark distinction to the place taken by Berlin, the EU’s most populous member.

In its annual report on candidate international locations’ progress revealed this week, the EU mentioned Turkey’s “rhetoric in support of terrorist group Hamas following its attacks against Israel… is in complete disagreement with the EU approach.”

“The European Union thinks exactly the same as Israel regarding Hamas,” Erdogan mentioned on the aircraft.

“I see Hamas as a political party that won the elections in Palestine. I don’t look at it the same way they do,” he added.

Erdogan repeated his name for a global convention to resolve the battle.

“Nothing can serve peace more than a meeting of all regional actors including warring sides,” he mentioned.