Turkey deeply concerned over violence in Gaza

By Can Erozden

ANKARA

Turkey is deeply concerned over a fresh wave of violence in Gaza, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

"We are deeply concerned by the new cycle of violence that has resulted from the escalating tension in Gaza since November 11," the ministry said in a statement on its website.

Ankara called on the international community to take necessary steps to end Israeli attacks which disregard the lives of innocent civilians.

At least 14 Palestinians have been martyred in Israeli attacks in Gaza since Sunday.

The Israeli army claims the attacks are in response to rocket fire from Gaza into southern Israel.

Since March 30, more than 200 Palestinians have been martyred by Israeli army gunfire -- and thousands more injured -- while taking part in ongoing rallies along the Gaza-Israel buffer zone.