Turkish, German foreign ministers discuss latest developments in Israeli-Palestinian conflict

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his German counterpart discussed the latest developments in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on Wednesday, according to Turkish diplomatic sources.

Fidan and Annalena Baerbock had a telephone call where they also talked about NATO expansion.

Israeli forces launched a sustained and forceful military campaign against the Gaza Strip in response to a military offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas in Israeli territories.

The conflict began Saturday when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel -- a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea and air.

Hamas said the operation was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.

The Israeli military launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip in response.

That response has extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening the living conditions in an area that has reeled under a crippling siege since 2007.