ANKARA: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday he welcomed a temporary pause in the war in Gaza and the exchange of hostages and prisoners between Israel and Hamas as a temporary “stop of bloodshed” in the region.
Speaking to lawmakers in the parliament, Erdogan said statements from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government were “lessening” Ankara’s hopes for a full ceasefire but added Turkey would intensify diplomatic efforts for a lasting ceasefire and the exchange of hostages in the coming days.
Erdogan also said Turkey had “largely completed” evacuating its citizens from Gaza, reiterating his stance that a genocide is taking place. He added that he would discuss the war in Gaza during an upcoming trip to Dubai later this week.
