UPDATE - Top Turkish, US diplomats discuss Israel, Palestine tension

ADDS DETAILS FROM MEETING IN GRAFS 2, 3

By Handan Kazanci and Necva Tastan

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke on the telephone amid recent tensions between Israel and Palestine, Turkish diplomatic sources said Saturday.

The pair discussed “the unprecedented scale and brutality of the Hamas attacks on Israeli territory,” said diplomatic sources.

Blinken stressed the US’ endorsement of Israel's right to protect itself and encouraged Türkiye's engagement.

Earlier, Fidan held phone calls with his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Furhan al-Saud, Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry, Palestinian counterpart Riyad al-Maliki, and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

Hamas launched on Saturday Operation Al Aqsa Flood, saying its surprise, multifront attack was in response to the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque and increased settler violence. It said it fired rockets and captured many Israelis.

In turn, the Israeli army initiated Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

At least 232 Palestinians have been killed in the attacks, according to medical sources in Gaza, while Israeli authorities put their death toll at 300.

Earlier, US President Joe Biden said he directed his national security team to remain in contact with leaders including those of Egypt, Türkiye, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia after Palestinian operation in Israel.