Turkey accuses US of planning Gaza massacre as aircraft carrier comes closer to Israel

Earlier this week, Tayyip Erdogan, the president of Turkey, lambasted the US for sending a carrier strike group closer to Israel, claiming that this will result in “serious massacres” in Gaza. U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin declared on Sunday that the country will move a carrier strike group, which includes the USS Gerald R. Ford, closer to Israel in response to a sudden attack by Hamas militants on Israel on Saturday. “What will the aircraft carrier of the U.S. do near Israel, why do they come? What will boats around and aircraft on it will do? They will hit Gaza and around, and take steps for serious massacres there,” Erdogan said in a joint press conference with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer in Ankara. Erdogan has already stated that Turkey is prepared to act as a peacemaker between the Israeli and Palestinian forces. The conflict occurs as Turkey, which has supported a two-state solution to the issue, harboured Hamas militants, and supported Palestinians in the past, attempts to mend relations with Israel following years of hostility. (With agency inputs)