ANKARA, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Türkiye will intensify its diplomatic efforts to stop Israel's "massacre" against Gaza, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said here Tuesday.

"We will increase our diplomatic efforts to stop the massacre, restore calm, and reestablish the ceasefire," Erdogan said at an iftar event at the National Defense University.

"I want to state this very clearly and unequivocally: We will firmly stand against those who, with the delusion of a promised land, seek to drown our region in blood, tears, and oppression," Erdogan said.

"Tel Aviv will account for every drop of blood it shed," he warned.

Earlier in the day, Türkiye's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that "the massacre of hundreds of Palestinians in Israel's attacks on Gaza demonstrates that the (Israeli President Benjamin) Netanyahu government's genocide policy has entered a new phase."

The ministry accused Israel of "blatantly violating international law and universal values," and warned that its actions have threatened regional stability.

The Turkish condemnation came as Israel launched a new wave of airstrikes across Gaza earlier on Tuesday, killing more than 400 people and further shattering a fragile ceasefire that took effect on Jan. 19.

Netanyahu said later in the day that Israel will escalate its renewed assault on the enclave and that "from now on, the negotiations (on Gaza ceasefire) will take place only under fire." Enditem

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