In rare move, Turkey declares three days of mourning for Gaza

ANKARA

The three days of mourning was announced by Deputy PM Bülent Arınç.

Turkey has declared three days of national mourning over Israel's Gaza operations, which have claimed the lives of over 500 Palestinians so far, Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç has announce.

It is a rare move, as Turkey does not usually declare mourning over disasters or incidents in foreign countries.

"We curse the merciless massacre committed by Israel against the Palestinian people, which has turned into a collective punishment. Our Cabinet has decided to declare three days of mourning," Arınç told reporters following a five-hour-long Cabinet meeting headed by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on July 21.

Turkey's national mourning in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza will start on July 22.

Following Israel's deadly attacks in different districts of Gaza that have killed scores of civilians, the Palestinian government has also declared three days of national mourning. 

Arınç also said Turkey would not normalize relations With Israel, although a deal to solve the compensation issue over the Mavi Marmara crisis was ready to be signed.

"We will not sign any deal with Israel as it continues its inhumane massacres against the Palestinians," he said.

Denying claims that Turkey was supplying jet fuel for warplanes to Israel, Arınç added that it was "impossible" to stop trade relations with Israel as they were being carried out by private businesses.