Turkey: President Erdogan welcomes Gaza truce, vows to step up diplomacy for release of hostages

President Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey on Wednesday welcomed a pause in the Gaza war and the exchange of hostages and prisoners between Israel and the Hamas as a temporary “stop of bloodshed” to the raging conflict.

“We view the hostage exchanges and the humanitarian pause as a positive development in terms of a stop of bloodshed,” Erdogan said.

More than 15,000 people, mostly women and children, have so far been killed in the Israeli campaign, health officials in the enclave say.

The Turkish government has been a vocal supporter of Palestine and has condemned Israel for its ground and air assault on Gaza, launched in response to Hamas’ attacks last month, in which some 1,200 people were killed and 240 others taken hostage.

Speaking to lawmakers in parliament, Erdogan took a swipe at Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu for the violent assault, stressing that the Israeli premier would be remembered as the “butcher of Gaza.”

“The statements coming from the Netanyahu government are lessening our hopes that the humanitarian pause can be turned into a lasting ceasefire,” Erdogan added.

He stated that he would discuss the situation in Gaza on a visit to Dubai later this week and that Ankara would step up diplomatic efforts in the coming days to achieve a full truce and captive exchanges.