ANKARA, November 7. /TASS/. Israel will be unable to ensure its security through the use of force, a diplomatic source told TASS on Tuesday, quoting Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan as saying during talks with his Belarusian counterpart, Sergey Aleinik.

"The human tragedy in the Gaza Strip was among the central topics of the meeting between the two ministers. Hakan Fidan stressed that Israel cannot ensure security through violence and that no one can stay silent looking at the oppression of and violence against Palestinians," the source said.

The top Turkish diplomat stressed that the international community "must not be silent in the face of cruelty and barbarism in the Gaza Strip." Turkey, in his words, "is making serious efforts to ensure an immediate and complete ceasefire in order to guarantee unimpeded deliveries of humanitarian aid to Gaza" and take steps towards a peace solution.

Tensions flared up in the Middle East after Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip attacked Israeli territory, killing many Israelis living in the settlements near the border and abducting more than 200 people, including children, women and the elderly. Hamas views its attack as a response to Israeli authorities’ steps against the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount. Israel declared a total blockade of the Gaza Strip and launched bombardments of the enclave and some areas in Lebanon and Syria. Clashes are also reported in the West Bank.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Spokesman Daniel Hagari said earlier that his country’s ground troops were expanding operations in the Gaza Strip.