Istanbul: Trkiye is conducting multi-faceted diplomatic efforts to reestablish a ceasefire and to end massacres in Gaza, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday, stressing that Ankara will continue to increase these efforts ahead of the Eid al-Fitr.

According to Anadolu Agency, Erdogan highlighted the lack of reaction from those who advocate for human rights and freedoms, particularly regarding "the vile killing of babies in their cradle" in Gaza, during an iftar dinner in Istanbul. He criticized many countries, especially Western governments, for their indifference to the situation in Gaza, describing it as barbarism.

Erdogan pointed out that Gaza and Palestine exemplify the discrimination in the discourse on rights and law, where people are divided based on their skin color and beliefs. He noted that the language changes when Palestinians are the oppressed, and Israelis are the oppressors.

Emphasizing Trkiye's commitment to the Palestinian cause, Erdogan expressed hope that the oppression in Gaza would end, drawing parallels with the situation in Syria.

The recent escalation has seen more than 700 Palestinians killed and over 1,000 injured due to a surprise aerial campaign by Israel on Gaza, breaking a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement established in January. Since October 2023, nearly 50,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed, and more than 112,000 injured in the ongoing Israeli military offensive in Gaza.

In response to these events, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Furthermore, Israel is facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice related to its actions in the enclave.