UPDATE - Türkiye ready to contribute to stop massacre in Gaza, establish cease-fire: President

UPDATE WITH MORE DETAILS, REMARKS FROM TURKISH PRESIDENT

By Serdar Dincel

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday expressed his country's readiness to contribute in every way to stop the ongoing massacre in Gaza, and establish a lasting cease-fire.

Israel has killed more than 43,000 people in Gaza since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks.

President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that the US will make "another push" with Türkiye, Egypt, Qatar, Israel and others to achieve a cease-fire and hostage exchange deal in Gaza.

It was the first time he mentioned Türkiye as part of the mediation efforts to secure the truce that could end the 14-month conflict.

In his address at Türkiye's AK Party's parliamentary group meeting, Erdogan also welcomed the cease-fire agreement between Israel and Lebanon that came into effect this morning.

"We expect all parties, especially Israel, to fully fulfill their responsibilities in maintaining calm on the ground," he said.

The truce between Israel and Lebanon, brokered with US and French diplomatic efforts, came into effect at 4 a.m. local time (0200GMT).

Hezbollah began a series of ballistic missile, rocket and drone attacks on Israel last October to demonstrate solidarity with the people of Gaza and pressure Israel for a cease-fire in the besieged coastal enclave.

While cross-border warfare continued, Israel launched massive airstrikes across the small Mediterranean country against what it said were Hezbollah targets in late September. A ground invasion was launched on Oct. 1.

Stressing that Türkiye is strengthening its role as a major actor of global politics day by day, Erdogan said Ankara is continuing its efforts to resolve the crises in the region, including Russia-Ukraine war, which continues for over a thousand days.

On Türkiye's fight against terrorism, the Turkish president said: “Step by step, we will finalize our project to free the southern borders of our country from the threats of terrorist organizations with a security belt extending from the Mediterranean to the Iranian border."

Referring to the PKK terror group and its offshoots, Erdogan said the terrorist organization's recent intensified attacks in Syria "stem from the fact that it sees the bitter fate awaiting it."

In its 40-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children, infants, and the elderly. The YPG is PKK's Syrian offshoot.