Turkey proposes two-stage plan to end tension in Gaza Strip

The first stage of the plan proposed by Turkey envisaged to launch an initiative that would display efforts for the immediate declaration of a ceasefire, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan told a press conference following his talks with Egyptian President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak in Sharm el Sheikh.

If the first stage was completed successfully, reaching an agreement between the Palestinian groups rapidly would be the second step, he added.  Â

He said Turkey was ready to mediate between Hamas and Palestinian Mahmoud Abbas' al Fatah group. Hamas took control of Gaza after routing Abbas loyalists in June 2007.Â

He said one of his representatives met with Hamas, but gave no details.Â

Erdogan said he had fruitful talks with Mubarak, adding Turkey was ready to cooperate with Egypt in carrying the Palestinian issue to the agenda of the United Nations.

Erdogan met Mubarak after talks with Jordanian, Syrian and Palestinian leaders in a bid to end a six-day Israeli offensive. Israel has killed more than 400 people in air strikes aimed at stopping Gaza militants from firing rockets at it.

"Inter-governmental relations should never involve emotions. However, injustice should never be permitted either. If there is cruelty, we cannot support that. We can try to solve it through talks," Erdogan said when asked how the developments in the region would affect Turkish-Israeli relations in the future.

Erdogan, whose country had mediated indirect peace talks between Israel and Syria before Damascus suspended them this week, has criticized Israel for being "disrespectful" towards Turkish peace efforts.

He said that the bombings should be stopped by both sides, the embargo should be lifted as agreed upon in a June 2008 agreement and humanitarian aid should be able to reach Gaza.

Erdogan was referring to an Egyptian-brokered truce, to which Hamas Islamists declared an end to last month.

Israel says the blockade, enforced for much of the period since Hamas won the Palestinian general elections in 2006, is designed to prevent Hamas from obtaining weapons.

"We call on Israel to declare ceasefire at first hand. Of course the opposing party should stop attacks likewise," he added.

After completing his talks in Egypt, Erdogan returned to Turkey. He is scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia on Saturday.