Erdogan calls on Western countries to “put pressure” on Israel to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza

5 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday called on Western countries to “pressure” the Israeli government to accept the latest proposal for a ceasefire agreement with the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in the Gaza Strip, after nearly nine months of conflict.

“It is essential that Western countries put pressure on Israel. I believe that as a result of this pressure, a definitive ceasefire will be reached,” Erdogan said during his return trip to Turkey from Kazakhstan, where he participated in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, according to Turkey’s state news agency Anatolia.

He said that the Qatari authorities, who are playing a mediation role, are also “applying the necessary pressure through different channels” to try to achieve a ceasefire. “We hope that, God willing, a definitive ceasefire will be achieved as a result of the call made by US President (Joe) Biden to Israel and that the massacres committed by Israel will end,” he concluded.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday authorized the dispatch of a new negotiating team to discuss with Hamas the possibility of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of hostages. Hamas is demanding that Israel end its offensive and withdraw its troops from Gaza, although Israeli officials have said the deal would not result in an end to its attacks.

Netanyahu’s decision comes after reviewing Hamas’ response to Biden’s latest proposal, although it has not been made clear to what extent it would deviate from this three-stage plan that envisages a temporary ceasefire as a prelude to a permanent end to hostilities, the exchange of hostages and the delivery of humanitarian aid, as well as the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli army launched a bloody offensive against the Strip following the attacks carried out on October 7 by Hamas and other Palestinian factions, which left some 1,200 dead and nearly 240 kidnapped. The Gaza authorities have reported more than 38,000 dead, in addition to more than 550 Palestinians killed in the West Bank and East Jerusalem in operations by Israeli forces or in attacks carried out by settlers.