Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on Friday for sanctions and an arms embargo to be imposed on Israel, accusing it of violating the ceasefire in Gaza. His remarks were reported by the Daily Sabah news site.
"Israel must be forced to uphold its commitments through sanctions stopping arms sales. We are taking steps to achieve this goal and will continue to do so," Erdogan told reporters aboard the presidential plane on his return from a visit to Gulf countries.
Video: Turkish aid enters the Gaza Strip // Arab networks
Erdogan added that talks were ongoing regarding the deployment of a multinational task force to Gaza and said Ankara was ready to offer all necessary support to the enclave. In recent days, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has voiced strong opposition to the deployment of Turkish troops in the Gaza Strip, a move Turkey is reportedly keen to pursue.
Turkey has launched a coordinated aid operation inside Gaza in recent days. Bulldozers carrying Turkish flags have begun clearing rubble in various parts of the Strip, and aid teams have been distributing boxes of humanitarian supplies provided by Ankara to local residents.
Turkey's growing influence in post-war arrangements for Gaza has been made possible by pressure from US President Donald Trump and by Turkey's success in convincing Hamas, with which it maintains close ties, to accept the terms of the ceasefire and the Trump Plan.
