Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday accused Israel of undermining efforts to end the war in the Middle East, while saying Ankara would continue to pursue opportunities for a ceasefire.
“The Israeli government has continued to undermine all initiatives aimed at ending the war,” Erdoğan said after a cabinet meeting in Ankara.
“If there is even the slightest chance to silence the weapons and open space for negotiations, we are making sincere efforts to seize it,” he added.
“Our hope is that this unlawful, senseless, illegitimate, and extremely costly war for all humanity will come to an end as soon as possible.”
Erdoğan said Turkey has intensified diplomatic contacts as the conflict continues.
“As the war drags on, we have warned that the fire could spread to other countries,” he said, adding that concerns about regional escalation remain as the conflict enters its 38th day.
“In the face of increasing risks, I, as president, on one hand, and our ministers on the other, are accelerating our diplomatic contacts,” he said.
Turkey has sought to mediate an end to the conflict, including through contacts with Pakistan and Egypt.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack on Monday, describing the talks as productive, according to the ambassador.
“Turkiye’s partnership continues to be vital as we work toward @POTUS’s (Trump’s) vision for a more secure region,” Barrack said on X.
Fidan also spoke by phone with his Iranian counterpart to discuss the course of the war and other developments, a Turkish diplomatic source said.
© Agence France-Presse