Ankara: The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has voiced strong condemnation of the ground operation initiated by Israel in the Gaza Strip, asserting that it marks a significant escalation in what it describes as a genocidal strategy by the government led by Benjamin Netanyahu.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a statement in response to the Israeli occupation army’s declaration of a large-scale ground operation in Gaza City. The ministry highlighted that Gaza City serves as a refuge for over one million Palestinians, emphasizing the severe implications of the military action on the civilian population.

The ministry warned that the ground operation will likely exacerbate the ongoing killings and result in the further displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, worsening their already dire humanitarian situation. The statement criticized the timing of the attack, noting it coincides with international efforts aimed at securing a ceasefire and facilitating the exchange of prisoners and detainees, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid.

The Turkish government urged the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council, to fulfill its responsibilities in ensuring a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Turkey reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with nations that uphold international law to address the crisis.

The Israeli occupation army, in its earlier statement, indicated that forces from the 98th, 162nd, and 36th divisions have commenced a comprehensive ground offensive in Gaza City, part of what has been labeled Operation Gideon 2. Despite intensified aerial bombardments reported by eyewitnesses, there were no immediate sightings of tanks entering the city.