Erdoğan speaks with Emir of Qatar about Gaza, calls for cooperation

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke with the Emir of Qatar and called for increased cooperation between Muslim countries in view of the war in Gaza in a call on Monday, his office said.

These countries must increase their efforts to stop Israel's "brutal attacks" in the Gaza Strip and to hold the country accountable for "crimes against humanity," according to a statement from the presidential office.

Erdoğan told Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani it is crucial to exert a restraining influence on Israel and to act with common sense in order to prevent the spread of tensions in the region.

The statement did not explicitly mention Iran's unprecedented direct attack on Israel. On Sunday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan had called for de-escalation in a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart.

Relations between Israel and Turkey massively deteriorated after the start of the Gaza war following the massacre by the Palestinian Islamist Hamas in Israel in October. Erdoğan has harshly criticized Israel's military action in Gaza, accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of committing a "massacre," charges Israel rejects.

The Turkish government maintains links with Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip. Unlike some European countries and the United States, Turkey does not classify Hamas as a terrorist organization.