Turkish MP resigns as Turkey-Israel friendship group member

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Three deputies from the ruling AKP, including Turkish Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Murat Mercan, resigned as member of the Turkey-Israel Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group on Monday over the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip. (UPDATED)

Israel's recent attack on Gaza tore a hole in people, Mercan, a deputy of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) told the Anatolian Agency.

"As what I can do is limited, I resigned in reaction to the attack. I also think that this operation was a sign of disrespect to Turkey," he said.

Two other AKP deputies, Abdulkadir Emin Onen and Yahya Akman, also resigned from the friendship group later on Monday.

Israel unleashed on Saturday a massive air campaign against Hamas targets in retaliation for ongoing rocket fire from its Gaza Strip stronghold, one of the most densely populated places on earth.

At least 51 civilians are among the victims of the Israeli blitz on Hamas-run Gaza Strip that has so far killed more than 310 people, the U.N. said.