Turkey ready to stop Hamas if US makes guarantees, PM says

ISTANBUL

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Turkey would be willing to lean on Hamas to halt rocket attacks on Israel if the United States “provides guarantees,” Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said today in Istanbul ahead of his departure to Cairo for talks on Hamas-Israel violence.
 
Following pressure from Washington for Turkey to put an end to Hamas’ attacks, Erdoğan said Ankara would be willing to do so on condition that the U.S. provide guarantees but did not elaborate what kind of guarantee Turkey would like to see.
 
"Israel is breaking the cease-fire in Gaza. We want an immediate cease-fire. Some 40 people have been killed on the Gazan side up until now, but the Israeli government sets the world on fire when three Israeli people die," Erdoğan said at the airport.
 
Erdoğan has spoken to U.S. President Barack Obama, Hamas Chairman Khaled Mashaal and Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi on the ongoing Israeli air strikes on Gaza.
 
Erdoğan will meet Morsi and give a speech at Cairo University as part of his trip to Egypt.
 
Following a Turkey-Egypt High Level Strategic Cooperation Council Meeting, Erdoğan is expected to give a joint press conference with Egyptian Prime Minister Hesham Mohamed Qandil.