Turkish premier says 'global justice is being killed' along with innocent Gaza children by Israeli strikes, as he blasts 'silent' international response.
"Israel is continuing to carry out state terrorism in the region. Nobody, except us, tells it to stop." Erdogan told members of his ruling party in parliament, accusing Israel of perpetrating a "massacre" of Palestinians.
"For how long more will the world remain silent to this state terrorism? In Palestine, innocent children are not the only ones who are being killed. Global justice is being killed there too." Erdogan told his ruling Justice and Development Party's parliamentary group meeting in Ankara.
"The day will come when Israel will pay a price for shedding innocent Palestinians' blood."
Erdogan also lashed out at Israeli lawmaker Ayelet Shaked of the far-right Jewish Home party who posted controversial remarks on social media suggesting the Palestinians deserved to die.
"What's the difference between this mentality and that of Hitler?"
Israel on Tuesday said it accepted the Egyptian proposal but Hamas has reportedly rejected the terms of the US-backed truce.
"But it appears that the blood of innocent Palestinian children is being exploited once again in the dirty politics of the Middle East."
Erdogan is holding regular talks on the phone with Abbas and Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal but no contacts have been made with Israel so far, a Turkish official told AFP.
"Concrete steps can only be taken after Israel stops its assault on Gaza."
Erdogan said relations will remain frosty as long as Israel continues its offensive against Gaza.
"The Israeli state must know that it is out of the question to normalise our relations if those massacres continue."
Erdogan is widely seen as a champion of the Palestinian cause.
"You are no longer alone and will never be."
