Turkey to take steps for measures against Israel

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has said Turkey will take steps at international institutions to see necessary measures taken against what he called Israel's “aggressive position” as it continued to pound Gaza with bombs for a second day.

Davutoğlu told reporters in Djibouti, where he traveled to attend the foreign ministers meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), that Israel had once again displayed its aggressiveness by attacking Gaza Wednesday night.

He added that Turkey will make efforts at both the OIC and other international institutions to condemn Israel's actions and to push for necessary measures against Tel Aviv's aggressive position on Gaza.

Israel exchanged the fiercest fire with Hamas in years after assassinating its military mastermind and threatening a wider offensive in the Gaza Strip to stem Palestinian rocket salvoes.

Launched on Wednesday during a deceptive lull in almost a week of surging cross-border violence, Israel's air assault had an intensity recalling the outset of the 2008-2009 Gaza war though this time the Palestinian death toll of 13 was far lower.

Hamas, reeling at the strategic loss of top commander Ahmed Al-Jaabari in a devastating strike on his car, resumed rocket attacks against the Jewish state's desert south.

Noting that the region is going through a critical period and that the most fundamental problem of the region is the Palestinian issue, Davutoğlu said Israel's occupation policy of establishing settlements in the West Bank and its aggressive position are making the already critical situation in the region even more urgent.

Davutoğlu said that he had talks with Hamas Political Bureau Chief Khaled Meshaal, as well as authorities in Gaza and Egypt, adding that Turkey will continue its efforts to make the international community take a more active role in this crisis.

The Turkish foreign minister also urged the UN Security Council to take action and to include regional countries in talks as affected nations.