Istanbul protest against Israel, Cavusoglu comment

Thousands of people in Istanbul defied a nationwide curfew late Tuesday, some joining a car convoy, others gathering on foot to demonstrate against Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip.

The event in support of the Palestinian people was organized by a Turkish Islamic NGO which called for demonstrators to drive to and gather in front of the Israeli consulate in Turkey's largest city.

On Tuesday, Israel stepped up its attacks on the Gaza Strip, flattening a high-rise building used by the Hamas militant group and killing at least three militants in their hideouts as Palestinian rockets rained down almost nonstop on parts of Israel.

It was the heaviest fighting between the bitter enemies since 2014, and it showed no signs of slowing.

Turkey's foreign minister, on a trip to Saudi Arabia, said it was not enough to condemn the attacks and that steps need to be taken. Mevlut Cavusoglu said he hoped for a decision at an extraordinary meeting of the U.N. Security Council.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to expand the offensive, while Gaza militants unleashed a fierce late-night barrage of rockets that set off air-raid sirens and explosions throughout the densely populated Tel Aviv metropolitan area.

Five Israelis, including three women and a child, were killed by rocket fire Tuesday and early Wednesday, and dozens of people were wounded.

The death toll in Gaza rose to 35 Palestinians, including 12 children and three women, according to the Health Ministry. Some 233 people were wounded.