Turkish, US Presidents discuss Gaza conflict, Sweden’s NATO bid over phone call

Ankara, Dec 15 : Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has held a phone call with his US counterpart Joe Biden, discussing the conflict between Israel and Hamas, bilateral ties, and Swedens NATO bid.

Erdogan told Biden during the phone call on Thursday that the "humanitarian tragedy in Gaza must be stopped as soon as possible, that the US withdrawal of unconditional support for Israel can ensure a ceasefire quickly", the Presidents office said.

"It is the historical responsibility of the US to ensure a permanent ceasefire in the region as soon as possible," Erdogan was quoted by Xinhua news agency as saying.

"The deepening and prolongation of Israels attacks may have negative regional and global consequences," he warned, adding that the most reasonable and permanent solution is to establish an independent, sovereign Palestinian State having territorial integrity, with Jerusalem as its capital, based on the 1967 borders.

The two leaders also discussed the sale of F-16 fighter jets during the phone call, according to the Presidents office.

Erdogan said last week that he expected the US Congress to approve the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Ankara before the Turkish parliament can ratify Swedens NATO membership bid.

Israels conflict with Hamas since October 7 has so far killed 18,787 people and wounded over 50,000 others in the Gaza Strip, the Hamas-run health ministry said on Thursday.About 1,200 people died during the surprise Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, according to Israeli figures.

int/sha