Erdogan calls on West to take 'deterrent steps' against Israel

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that attacks on Lebanon this week showed that the Israeli government planned to spread war to the wider region, and called on western countries to take "deterrent steps" against Israeli actions.

Erdogan told a press conference in Istanbul on Saturday that Israel's war in Gaza would top the agenda of his speech at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.

"In order for our region not to be dragged into a great disaster, the pressure on Israel must be increased even more," Erdogan said.

"It is time for all countries with the mission of protecting world peace to come up with solutions that will stop Israel," he added.

"In order to end this oppression that has been going on for almost a year, to establish a permanent ceasefire and to ensure the unhindered flow of humanitarian aid, all of us, the whole world and especially the UN, have important duties."