Turkish FM, Arab ministers arrive in Gaza Strip

The foreign ministers' arrival on Tuesday comes amid escalating Israeli attacks on the besieged territory to show support for Palestinians.

The delegation is scheduled to remain in Gaza for a few hours, visiting Shifa medical compound, as well as a Palestinian family who lost 11 members in an Israeli airstrike two days ago.

    On Saturday, Nabil al-Arabi condemned "Israel's aggression" against the Palestinians, pledging to end the blockade on Gaza during Arab foreign ministers’ emergency talks in the Egyptian capital, Cairo.


Al-Arabi also called on Arab states to reconsider their plans for peace with Tel Aviv.

The ministerial meeting was called after the Israeli military launched a series of new air and sea attacks, dubbed “Operation Pillar of Cloud” against Gazans on Wednesday.

More than 1,500 Israeli airstrikes and shelling have left over 130 Palestinians dead and over 1,000 others injured since November 14. Some of the injured are in critical condition.

The Israeli military frequently carries out airstrikes and other attacks on the Gaza Strip, saying the actions are being conducted for defensive purposes. However, disproportionate force is always used, in violation of international law, and civilians are often killed or injured.

Gaza has been blockaded since June 2007, a situation that has caused a decline in the standard of living, unprecedented levels of unemployment, and unrelenting poverty.