ANKARA, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Türkiye condemned the Israeli raid on Thursday that killed at least nine Palestinians in the West Bank.
Ankara "strongly condemned" raids that claimed civilian lives in the West Bank and is "deeply concerned over rising tension, loss of lives almost every day," said the Turkish Foreign Ministry in a statement.
"The Israeli side said it was a counter-terrorism operation, but there was also an elderly woman among the killed," said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
The new Israeli government "has been continuing various provocations since taking office," he added, urging the Israeli government to "refrain from such attacks and provocations."
The minister made the remarks at a joint press conference with visiting Serbian First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic.
The violence took place in the refugee camp in the West Bank town of Jenin, a flashpoint town that has been a stronghold for militants and a target for frequent Israeli raids for almost a year.
The Israeli military said in a statement that it raided the refugee camp to foil "a major attack" by militants.
The Palestinian Health Ministry said in a statement that at least nine people were killed and 20 others injured, four of them in critical condition. ■
