Turkish, Saudi foreign ministers discuss latest situation in Palestine

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) – Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held a phone call with his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan on Tuesday to discuss the latest situation in Palestine amid relentless Israeli attacks, according to Turkish diplomatic sources.

No further detail provided about the phone call, but it came at a time when the Israeli army has expanded its air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip, which has been under bombardment since the surprise offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7.

More than 10,000 people have been killed in the conflict, including 8,525 Palestinians and more than 1,538 Israelis, according to the latest figures.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected growing calls for a cease-fire, saying it would be a "surrender" to Hamas.

An Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip has also cut fuel, electricity and water supplies to Gaza, and reduced aid deliveries are unable to satisfy the needs of more than 2 million residents.