 Turkish PM, Recep Tayyip Erdogan rules out sending military forces to monitor the border crossings in Gaza. |
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has ruled out sending military forces to monitor the border crossings in the Gaza Strip.
"Ankara will consider sending only civilian forces to Palestine to ensure a durable ceasefire," Hurriyat quoted Erdogan as saying on Monday.
Erdogan's remark came after Hamas told Egyptian mediators that it was willing to deploy European and Turkish monitors at the Rafah crossing.
Erdogan's remark came after Hamas told Egyptian mediators that it was willing to deploy European and Turkish monitors at the Rafah crossing.
Turkey has expressed readiness to participate in an international monitoring force for Gaza. It currently plays an active role in carrying out peacekeeping missions in the West Bank city of Hebron and Lebanon in the Middle East, as well as in Afghanistan and Kosovo.
Meanwhile, a Hamas official Ayman Taha told reporters that the movement accepts Turkish observers to be part of the monitoring system. He was speaking after his talks with Egyptian intelligence officials in Cairo.
Meanwhile, a Hamas official Ayman Taha told reporters that the movement accepts Turkish observers to be part of the monitoring system. He was speaking after his talks with Egyptian intelligence officials in Cairo.
"We are open to the presence of European observers, Turkish observers and forces from Gaza's national security to open (Rafah) on a temporary basis until the formation of a national unity government," he was quoted by AFP as saying.
He added the matter of Rafah is "complex and thorny."
Egyptian authorities have sealed off the Rafah border crossing into Gaza by deploying troops to the terminal, despite the dire humanitarian situation in the heavily bombarded coastal strip, which has been under a 19-month siege.
Hamas has sharply criticized Cairo for refusing to keep the crossing open to wounded Palestinian people during the deadly Israeli offensive which killed nearly 1,330 Palestinians, mostly civilians.
He added the matter of Rafah is "complex and thorny."
Egyptian authorities have sealed off the Rafah border crossing into Gaza by deploying troops to the terminal, despite the dire humanitarian situation in the heavily bombarded coastal strip, which has been under a 19-month siege.
Hamas has sharply criticized Cairo for refusing to keep the crossing open to wounded Palestinian people during the deadly Israeli offensive which killed nearly 1,330 Palestinians, mostly civilians.
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