Since the beginning of the Gaza crisis, daily protests in solidarity with Palestinians have been taking place all over Turkey. Secularists, Islamists and nationalists: the whole country has come together to condemn Israel, Turkey's strategic ally.  "Turkey should be clear about its position. Our government should react not only with words but also with concrete action. They should cut all ties with Israel!" declared a man taking part in the protest.

As a secular yet mainly Muslim country, Turkey has been brokering indirect peace talks between Syria and Israel. But the incursion has stopped this process. The Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, sees the Israeli attack on Gaza as an act of betrayal.

Suat Kiniklioglu, the country's Parliamentary foreign affairs committee, says: "We felt that our efforts and good offices in advancing the talks between Israelis and Syrians were damaged. It was extremely disrespectful because Prime Minister Olmert was here so recently, and this operation took place right after that!"

As a result, the Turkish prime minister has refused any contact with his Israeli counterpart. He has instead discussed the situation in Gaza with Iranian parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani, who happened to be in Ankara last Tuesday.

Turkey's recent improved ties with the neighbouring Muslim nations and its current role as mediator between Hamas and Israel gives it a key position in the region. Ibrahim Kalin, Foundation for Political, Economic and Social research, says: “You need to involve all the actors, the so-called good actors and the bad ones, the difficult actors and easy actors, everybody has to be part of the political process."

"If you are going to find a solution to the Middle East crisis you can't do it only by talking with the so-called good guys, you have to involve other countries. Let's name them: Syria, Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah." But Turkey's strong criticism of the Jewish state has affected its hitherto neutral position, and therefore possibly its future role as a mediator.

For now, Turkey has assumed a position that is in line with the public's shock at the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Kiniklioglu adds: "Whether Turkey will play mediating role in the Middle East crisis is a secondary consideration for us, when the first consideration should be to take a position that's based on justice and moral standards…" The Turkish Red Crescent has this week sent another humanitarian convoy to what Turks call their 'Palestinian brothers'.

Meanwhile, Ankara has also proposed to send peacekeepers to monitor a potential ceasefire in Gaza.