Erdogan says Turkey ready to mediate between Israel, Palestine

Turkey is ready to act as a mediator to end the conflict between Israel and Palestine if the two parties make such a proposition, including hostage swaps, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday in a press conference following a cabinet meeting in Ankara.

“We believe that there will be no peace in the region without an independent, sovereign Palestine,” he said.

Turkey is making necessary preparations to send humanitarian aid to Gaza, he added.

Erdogan urged Israel to stop bombing Palestinian lands and Palestine to stop harassing Israeli civilian settlements.

At the same time, the leaders of the U.S., Germany, Britain, France and Italy issued a joint statement late on Monday condemning the attacks on Israel by Hamas and expressed their “steadfast and united support” for Israel.

“Over the coming days, we will remain united and coordinated, together as allies, and as common friends of Israel, to ensure Israel is able to defend itself, and to ultimately set the conditions for a peaceful and integrated Middle East region,” said the statement.

It was signed by U.S. President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.