Special report: Israel launches Gaza assault

    ANKARA, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Turkey on Saturday called on Israel and the Palestinians to put an end to acts of violence immediately.

    The Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement that "despite all warnings and calls for restraint, the Israeli-Palestinian dispute has been further deteriorating."

    "Turkey has launched active diplomatic initiatives since the very beginning of the crisis, and held talks with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the third countries in an effort to end acts of violence."

    "Although both Israeli and Palestinian parties gave encouraging responses to our calls, the crisis has been further deepening. We are extremely concerned about recent developments."

    "Previous clashes proved that Israeli-Palestinian dispute could not be resolved through military methods. Therefore, we call on the parties once again to put an end to acts of violence immediately and act with common sense to prevent more bloodshed."

    Tension between the Palestinians and Israel escalated as Israeli troops expanded their broad military offensive in Gaza in a bid to free an Israeli soldier kidnapped by Palestinian militants and stop Palestinian militants firing rockets.

    Over 30 Palestinians and one Israeli soldier have been killed since the start of the Israeli military operation on June 28, the first major invasion in Gaza since Israel quit the coastal strip last summer after 38 years of occupation. Enditem

Related photos:

A Palestinian boy runs past smoke to avoid Israeli sniper fire during an Israeli army incursion in Beit Lahiya, in the northen Gaza Strip, Friday July 7, 2006. Israeli air and ground operations against the Palestinians continued on Friday. So far, over 30 Palestinians and one Israeli soldier have been killed and over 100 Palestinians have been injured since the start of the Israeli military operation on June 28, according to medics and witnesses. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

A Palestinian carries a boy to the hospital, who was injured  in an Israeli army incursion in Beit Lahiya, in the northen Gaza Strip, Friday July 7, 2006. Israeli air and ground operations against the Palestinians continued on Friday. So far, over 30 Palestinians and one Israeli soldier have been killed and over 100 Palestinians have been injured since the start of the Israeli military operation on June 28, according to medics and witnesses. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)