ISTANBUL

Türkiye reiterates its call to Israel "not to expand the scope of its attacks on civilians" and cease operations that approach "genocide," President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday.

"By killing children, women, and civilians, and by bombing hospitals, schools, mosques, and churches, it is clear that security cannot be achieved. Oppression does not lead to lasting peace," Erdogan said on X in a statement on the latest escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict playing out in Gaza.

"The Israeli leadership, instead of correcting its mistakes and acting with state wisdom, is behaving like an organization, often incited by actors out of region," he added.

Erdogan said the region must be liberated as soon as possible from the current "insane frenzy that "Western countries are encouraging and Western media outlets seem to be in a race to legitimize

The Turkish president also urged all countries and international agencies to genuinely back initiatives aimed at quickly achieving a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

"We believe that by setting up new mechanisms to guarantee the safety of all people living in these lands, our region will achieve lasting stability," Erdogan said.

He also underlined that Türkiye will persist in its efforts to prevent more loss of innocent lives, avert further humanitarian crises, and seek a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict "before they reach a point of no return."

The conflict in Gaza, which is under Israeli bombardment and blockade since Oct. 7, began when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea, and air. It said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers.

The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, along with stepping up raids and arrests in the occupied West Bank.

The Israeli siege has left the 2.3 million residents of Gaza with little food, water, fuel and medical supplies.

At least 4,137 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on the Palestinian enclave, while the figure stands at more than 1,400 people in Israel.