Turkey calls on UN, OIC to stage emergency meetings on Israeli offensive

Ankara will call for an emergency meeting in the U.N. Security Council, Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and U.N. Commission on Human Rights over Israel’s ground offensive into Gaza, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has said.

“We vehemently condemn the ground operation launched by Israel into Gaza tonight following its inhuman murders by air strikes,” Davutoğlu announced on his Twitter account early July 18.

“The conscience of humanity is being tested once again with the Palestinian issue,” he added.

During a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry late on July 17, Davutoğlu said he explained to Kerry the “indignation in Turkey and the Islamic world over Gaza.”

“We exchanged views with a view to reaching a lasting cease-fire immediately which can be accepted by Palestinians,” he said.

“I expressed our demand for the immediate halt of Israeli attacks,” the minister said.

Davutoğlu also talked with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Qatari Foreign Minister Khalid al-Attiyah and OIC Secretary General Iyad Madani late on July 17.

Turkey’s discussions with Hamas and Fatah officials are also continuing, Davutoğlu said.