Turkish Government spokesman, State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek said Monday Israel's operation in the Gaza Strip to intimidate and penalize everyone is not right.

Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed with his Israeli counterpart Ehud Olmert to make a new effort to revive the peace efforts in the region.

Speaking to press following Monday's cabinet session, Cicek said the government had discussed foreign policy issues during the Council of Ministers meeting.

"We evaluated Israel's operations against Gaza in which more than 100 Palestinians lost their lives," Cicek reported.

As Turkey, we are deeply saddened by what is happening in Gaza, Cicek noted.

"Gaza is a very small area and a population of 1.5 million people live there," Cicek stressed.

It is unacceptable to see the bombing of areas populated by civilians as in the case of Gaza, Cicek underlined.

"We hope that the negotiations for peace will continue. If humans lose hope in peace, then there is no other alternative but violence. Radicals and those opposing peace would benefit from violence," Cicek said.

Turkey sent eight trucks loaded with essential food items to Gaza, Cicek also said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Erdogan was on the phone talking to Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

Erdogan had separate phone conversations with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Olmert.

In a phone conversation with Abbas on Sunday, Erdogan called for restraint to put an end to current tension and conflict. Erdogan touched on what could be done to revive peace process through negotiations, sources said on Monday.

Abbas asked Turkey's support on the matter, sources added.

On the other hand, Erdogan spoke with Olmert Monday afternoon and said that what is going in Gaza is "unacceptable" and that these developments block peace efforts.

Erdogan also told Olmert that Turkish trucks carrying humanitarian aid for Palestinian people was stopped in the north of the region. The two leaders agreed on immediate transportation of aid to Palestinian people, sources said.

Olmert informed Erdogan on recent developments in the region and asked Turkey to support re-launch of peace negotiations, they added.