MEZIESBLOG

The president of Turkey has accused the US of taking steps towards a “serious massacre” in Gaza.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticised Joe Biden for moving an aircraft carrier closer to Israel, saying the US will “hit Gaza”.

 “What will the aircraft carrier of the US do near Israel, why do they come? What will boats around and aircraft on it will do?” Mr Erdogan said earlier.

“They will hit Gaza and around, and take steps for serious massacres there.”

He has previously said Turkey was ready to mediate between Israeli and Palestinian forces to ensure calm. 

Israeli Culture secretary speaking at prayer vigil

In north London, Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer is speaking at a prayer vigil. 

She says Prime Minister Rishi Sunak “truly stands” with Israel and the Jewish community.

“What I see is terrorists carrying out murders, kidnappings, threatening executions,” she says. 

“I think they should be called out as acts of terror.” 

Meanwhile, shadow foreign secretary David Lammy attended a Labour Friends of Palestine event on the fringes of the party conference in Liverpool.

He said “too many families have had their hearts broken” and before this weekend’s events Palestinian deaths were “already at their highest annual level”. 

“I think of the children of Gaza facing the reality of war in a place that was already bereft of hope,” he added. 

At least 20 US citizens missing

At least 20 US citizens are still missing, according to US national security adviser Jake Sullivan.

He said it was not known how many of those are being held as hostages. 

“I want to underscore and stress that does not mean necessarily that there are 20 or more American hostages. Just that is the number who are currently unaccounted for,” Mr Sullivan told reporters. 

Secretary of State Antony Blinken plans to travel to Israel on Thursday to meet with senior Israeli leaders, a State Department spokesman said.