Top Turkish, UK diplomats discuss Israel-Palestine conflict

By Muhammed Enes Calli

ISTANBUL (AA) – Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and the UK's Foreign Secretary James Cleverly discussed the recent tensions between Israel and Palestine, Turkish diplomatic sources said Monday.

Speaking over the phone, Fidan and Cleverly discussed the latest developments, the sources said.

The Gaza-based resistance group Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel early Saturday, firing a barrage of rockets.

It said the surprise attack was in response to the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and increased settler violence.

In retaliation, the Israeli army launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The number of Palestinians killed by the Israeli forces in Gaza has risen to 493, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said on Monday amid ongoing fighting. It also said the number of injured people surged to 2,751.

The Interior Ministry in Gaza said the Israeli army has "intensified its aggression" on Gaza with hundreds of raids.

The Israeli army said it had struck over 500 targets in overnight raids on Gaza, which they claimed were targets belonging to the Hamas and Islamic Jihad groups.

At least 700 Israelis have been killed and over 2,300 others wounded in the fighting, according to the Israeli Health Ministry.