ANKARA, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Türkiye on Tuesday condemned Israel's latest airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government of escalating what it called a "policy of genocide."
"The massacre of hundreds of Palestinians in Israel's attacks on Gaza demonstrates that the Netanyahu government's genocide policy has entered a new phase," Türkiye's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The ministry accused Israel of "blatantly violating international law and universal values" and warned that its actions threatened regional stability.
"The aggression displayed by the Israeli government threatens the future of the region," it said, calling the escalation "unacceptable."
Türkiye urged the international community to take a firm stance against Israel and called for immediate action to secure a lasting ceasefire and ensure humanitarian aid reaches Gaza.
Israel launched its most intense strikes overnight since a ceasefire took effect on Jan. 19. Gaza's health authorities reported that at least 404 people, including many children, had been killed. The toll is expected to rise as rescue workers search for victims under the rubble. ■
