Erdoğan warns Sunak: Don’t stoke Israel-Hamas crisis

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday that Western countries should avoid taking “provocative steps” that could escalate the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

The two leaders spoke about the ongoing conflict during a phone call Monday, discussing ways to establish peace in the region and to solve the “severe humanitarian crisis,” according to Ankara’s readout of the call.

During the call, Erdoğan invited the West to “effectively object to the human rights violations in Gaza” and to “remember and fulfill the promises made to Palestine over the years.” Islamist ideology has underpinned Erdoğan’s two-decade rule in Turkey.

A spokesperson for Sunak’s office made no reference to the warning, saying that the pair had “shared their concerns about the risk of violence spreading in the region and agreed to work together to mitigate against further escalation.”

The two leaders had, No.10 Downing Street added, “discussed the importance of facilitating humanitarian aid to Gaza and taking all reasonable measures to protect civilians caught up in the violence.”

Since Hamas launched its violent surprise attack in Israel nine days ago — killing more than 1,300 Israelis — Israel has put Gaza under seige and launched thousands of air strikes, killing at least 2,750 Palestinians. Erdoğan has condemned Israel’s response, calling the blockade of Gaza and ongoing bombing a “massacre” and urging the world not to “blindly” take one side.

Israel’s retaliation has divided the EU, whose leaders have been split between showing unwavering support for Israel and demanding they exercise restraint in their response.

Sunak has declared repeatedly that the U.K. “stands with Israel.” Addressing MPs on Monday, he urged Israel to respond to the Hamas attacks in line with international law and “to take every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians.”

But the British government’s stance has angered some at home. Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf, whose own family is trapped in Gaza and, has accused the British government of failing to value Palestinian lives as highly as Israeli ones.

Since the conflict escalated earlier this month, Erdoğan has repeatedly offered to play middleman and help negotiate peace in the region.