Turkish PM, Egypt's Morsi discuss Gaza offensive

Turkish PM, Egypt's Morsi discuss Gaza offensive
 

16 November 2012 / TODAYSZAMAN.COM, İSTANBUL

The Turkish prime minister, who is scheduled to visit Egypt on Saturday, discussed the escalating exchange of fire between Israel and the  Palestinians late on Thursday with Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi.    

Sources said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Morsi exchanged views on tensions in the region, particularly Israel's assault on Gaza. In their conversation, Morsi also stressed that Cairo is “impatiently” awaiting Erdoğan's visit on Saturday.
A total of 21 Palestinians have died including eight militants and 13 civilians, among them seven children and a pregnant woman. A Hamas rocket killed three Israeli civilians a town north of Gaza, all men and women in their 30s.
Egypt's new Islamist president, Mohamed Morsi, viewed by Hamas as a protector, led a chorus of denunciation of the Israeli strikes by allies of the Palestinians.
The United States asked Turkey and Egypt, which have contact with Hamas, to urge the movement to stop its recent rocket attacks from Gaza.
"We've ... urged those that have a degree of influence with Hamas, such as Turkey and Egypt and some of our European partners, to use that influence to urge Hamas to de-escalate," Ben Rhodes, deputy national security adviser, said.