O Türkiye apparently is conducting negotiations on civilianswho were kidnapped in the Gaza Strip by the Palestinian militant group Hamas following its attack on Israel over the weekend, one of them said senior Turkish official on Wednesday night. The Turkish daily newspaper “Habertürk” reported this. Ankara is increasing its efforts and diplomacy to mediate the conflict, he said. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the talks were being conducted by relevant Turkish institutions under instructions from President Tayyip Erdogan, but did not give further details. Hamas is believed to have captured more than 150 people, including foreigners. The Islamic Jihad terrorist organization also claimed to hold around 30 people hostage.
Previously, the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the Israeli blockade and bombing of the Gaza Strip in response to the attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas a disproportionate response. He said it amounted to a “massacre.”, reported Portal news agency. Thus, Erdogan repeated Ankara’s offer to mediate the conflict.
Erdogan, speaking to his ruling AK party in parliament, said even war had a “morality” but that the escalation since the weekend violated it “very seriously.” “Preventing people from meeting their most basic needs and bombing homes where civilians live – in short, waging a conflict using any kind of nefarious methods – is not a war, but a massacre,” he said, referring to the fact that Israel has cut off electricity and water to the Gaza Strip and destroyed infrastructure. Ankara does not consider Hamas a terrorist organization.