Turkish president accuses US of role in ‘horrible massacre’ in Gaza

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has used a meeting with Prime Minister Theresa May to accuse Israel and the United States of roles in a “horrible massacre” in Gaza.

Seated next to Mrs May in Downing Street ahead of talks with the Prime Minister, he said many “martyrs” had been created in Monday’s deadly clash, in which 58 Palestinians were killed by Israeli snipers.

And he accused the US, Britain’s closest ally, of laying the foundations for the carnage by moving its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

After Mrs May had said their talks would focus on trade, Syria and defence, Mr Erdogan said: “While we are focusing our talks on the Syria issue, yesterday, unfortunately, significant incidents have unfolded in Palestine after the US decided to move their embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.

“We are facing significant challenges and there are a lot of martyrs. There are more than 2,000 wounded and more than 50 casualties.

“Unfortunately, while Israel was busy undertaking this horrible massacre, unfortunately the United States paved the way for this and laid the foundations.”

Mr Erdogan had earlier walked into Downing Street from the Foreign Office, avoiding noisy protests in Whitehall against his visit to Britain.

The Prime Minister shook hands and posed for photographs with Mr Erdogan outside No 10 as demonstrators opposed to his authoritarian rule shouted slogans and waved placards on Whitehall.

He had earlier visited Buckinghampalaceforanaudience with the Queen, on the last day of a three-day visit to Britain.

Critics had accused the Prime Minister of “cosying up” to a totalitarian leader for economic reasons as she prepared to host him at No 10.