Turkey calls on Washington to leverage its influence with Israel

Ahram Online , Sunday 17 Dec 2023

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan urged his U.S. counterpart, Antony Blinken, to leverage Washington's influence over Israel to persuade it to cease its attacks on Gaza and engage in diplomatic negotiations aimed at achieving a two-state solution, SkyNews reported, citing a Turkish diplomatic source.

Antony Blinken with Hakan Fidan
File Photo: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, fourth left, attends a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, third right, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ankara, Turkey. AP

 

Fidan told Blinken the situation in Gaza and the West Bank is worsening due to the brutal Israeli aggression, the source said.

"Fidan underscored the importance of compelling Israel to engage in negotiations at the table, following the establishment of a comprehensive ceasefire. The goal is to initiate a process focused on achieving a just and enduring peace through a two-state solution," the Turkish source added. 

On Thursday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told President Joe Biden that the US had a historic responsibility to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza.

The Gaza Strip has been hard hit by bombardments and ground operations carried out by the Israeli occupation army since Hamas's October 7 Al-Aqsa Flood Operation against Israel.

According to the Palestinian health ministry, Israel's aggression on Gaza has killed at least 18,800 people, two-thirds of them women and children.

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