The Turkish government condemned on Friday the kidnapping of more than 30 high officials of the Palestinian Authority including lawmakers, Mayors and a Minister of Education Nasser Eddin El-Shaer.
In a press release by the Turkish consulate in Jerusalem, the Government of the Republic of Turkey said it is “deeply concerned that more than 30 high-level Palestinian authorities including H.E. Nasreddeen Shaer, Minister of Education and Higher Education of the Palestinian National Authority, members of the Palestinian Legislative Council and Mayors have been arrested during the operations conducted by Israel.”
The statement added that these types of actions are counterproductive and do not support peace efforts.
“Turkey is of the view that these kinds of developments do not serve any constructive purpose in the current phase where there is a need for confidence building between the two sides,” the press release added in an official translation from Turkish language.
The condemnation comes after the Israeli army invaded several West Bank cities Wednesday night and kidnapped members of Parliament and mayors which the Israeli government claimed were affiliated with Hamas.
Some media sources reported that Israel is planning to assassinate 16 Hamas officials and Palestinian resistance leaders, including Palestinian Prime Minister Ismael Haniyeh and Hamas’ politburo head Khaled Mashaal.
