Turkish authorities have intensified diplomatic efforts to put an end to Israeli aggression against the Palestinians as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held phone calls with the leaders of Jordan and Kuwait.
In the calls, Erdoğan discussed Israel's attacks targeting the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Gaza Strip and Palestinian civilians with Jordan's King Abdullah II and Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah.
A statement from the Presidency said Erdoğan told Abdullah and Al Sabah that Turkey, Jordan and Kuwait should work together to defuse tensions.
According to the statement, Erdoğan underlined that all Muslims around the globe are targeted by Israel's "inhumane" attacks against the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu exchanged views with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary-General Yousef Al-Othaimeen.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Çavuşoğlu discussed steps to mobilize the international community, including the United Nations, and to set up a committee on Jerusalem within the OIC.
Earlier on the same day, diplomatic sources also confirmed to Daily Sabah that Turkey will intensify diplomacy for Palestine with members of the OIC, will bring Israeli attacks to the table in the United Nations Security Council meeting, and hold meetings with world leaders and members of the UNSC.
An Israeli airstrike killed 20 people in northern Gaza, the Strip's Health Ministry said in a statement earlier on the same day. The Ministry added that nine children were among the victims in the Gaza Strip.
"Bodies of nine martyrs, including three children, and several other people injured have been brought to the Beit Hanoun Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip," Ashraf al-Qudra, a ministry spokesperson, said in a statement.
While the official did not give details about how the people were killed or injured, there were reports circulating of Israeli attacks on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Hundreds of Palestinian protesters were injured in renewed attacks by the Israeli police in the occupied East Jerusalem holy site, the Al-Aqsa Mosque Monday after days of raids and attacks against peaceful worshippers during the month of Ramadan.
Fifty of the injured were taken to hospitals, a medical source told Anadolu Agency Monday.
The continuation of Israeli security forces attacks follow high tensions since last week in the Sheikh Jarrah area as Israeli settlers swarmed in after an Israeli court ordered the eviction of Palestinian families.
Earlier in the day, Palestinian groups shot rockets at Israeli locations in response to the continued Israeli aggression at the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the eviction of Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in occupied East Jerusalem. The Israeli army reported that seven rockets were fired from Gaza toward western Jerusalem.
Israeli security forces fired rubber-coated bullets, tear gas and stun grenades, wounding hundreds ahead of a rally by hardline Jewish groups to celebrate "Jerusalem Day," commemorating Israel's victory in the 1967 Six-Day War. The protesters retaliated by throwing stones and other objects at the police. Palestinians reported stun grenades fired into the mosque complex, with dozens injured.
Since Friday, Israeli police have been constantly attacking Palestinian worshippers in the mosque, amounting to almost 300 injured over the weekend. Most of the injuries were caused by rubber-coated bullets fired by police, the Palestinian Red Crescent reported.
The attack on Islam's third holiest site and around East Jerusalem coincides with Israel's decision to evict Palestinians from their homes on land claimed by Jewish settlers, drawing condemnation from several countries for both the violence at Al-Aqsa and the evictions.
Tensions in Jerusalem have soared in recent weeks as Palestinians have protested against Israel's restrictions on access to parts of the Old City during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, and after authorities ordered several Palestinian families to leave their homes to make way for Israeli settlers.
