Political activism

Turkey and Qatar have welcomed the 12-hour ceasefire in Gaza which aims to give Palestinians the chance to receive food and water supplies and allow hospitals to get medical supplies.

Turkey has declared three days of national mourning over Israel's Gaza operations, which have claimed the lives of over 500 Palestinians so far, Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç has announce.

It is a rare move, as Turkey does not usually declare mourning over disasters or incidents in foreign countries.

Israel advised its citizens on July 19 not to travel to Turkey, citing "the public mood" after heated protests there against Israel's ground offensive into Gaza.

The Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem said Israelis should "avoid non-essential visits" to Turkey - once Israel's closest regional ally - or be especially vigilant and steer clear of anti-Israel demonstrations.

Israeli diplomatic missions targeted by demonstrators

ANKARA -- The Turkish police used water cannons to disperse demonstrators who threw stones at the Israeli consulate in Istanbul.

They were protesting against Israel's ground offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Amid the spiraling bloodshed in Gaza, Turkey continues to send aid to the Palestinian enclave through the Kerem Shalom border crossing in coordination with the Israeli army. Turkish agencies have been flowing aid into Gaza worth a total of $2.5 million and most of the assistance is based on local procurement, a Turkish official told the Hürriyet Daily News.

The Turkish government and Palestinian authorities are in talks for providing humanitarian aid to Gaza Strip as Israeli jets continue to pound the enclave.

Turkey's Davutoglu says government cannot prevent another aid flotilla to Gaza