ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday said the United States has a “historic responsibility” to ensure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, warning of the “negative regional and global consequences” of the unrest.

The Turkish leader spoke on the telephone with US President Joe Biden in their first talks since Oct 7.

“President Erdogan stated that the intensification and prolongation of Israeli attacks could have negative regional and global consequences,” the Turkish presidency said in a statement after the call.

“Withdrawal of the United States’ unconditional support for Israel can guarantee a rapid ceasefire,” it added.

Erdogan has been one of the Muslim world’s most vocal critics of Israel’s military tactics in Gaza.

He has referred to Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu as “the butcher of Gaza” and branded Israel a “terror state”.

During the telephone call, Erdogan said that “the United States has a historic responsibility to ensure a permanent ceasefire in the region as soon as possible”.

The White House said in a statement that “Biden reiterated his support for Israel’s right to defend itself.” But it added that “the leaders also discussed efforts to increase humanitarian assistance to Gaza and protect civilians and the need for a political horizon for the Palestinian people.” Biden has strongly backed Israel but on Tuesday he issued his strongest criticism yet, warning that Israel risked losing global support over “indiscriminate bombing”.

The White House said earlier on Thursday it wanted the war to end “as soon as possible”, after Israel’s defence minister told a top US official it would last several months more.

Biden also discussed Turkey’s delay in approving Nato membership for Sweden, the White House statement said.

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2023