Turkey and the EU speak out on Gaza Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had uncompromising words for the Israeli action on Gaza. "What is happening is terrorism," the PM said. He was speaking on Monday at the opening of the Eurasia Islam Council meeting in Istanbul. He said he was waiting for an effective response from international institutions and named the United Nations and the European Union. In Brussels the situation in Gaza was on the agenda at a meeting of the bloc's foreign ministers. They were united in their demands for an end to the current violence and a move towards a long term solution. We are calling for an urgent de-escalation and a cessation of hostilities. In this respect we support the mediation efforts of Egypt and other parties. You have heard me say many times before that a long term solution for Gaza and moving towards the resolution of the Israeli - Palestinian conflict is a necessity," Catherine Ashton the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy told reporters. A demonstration outside that meeting called on the EU nations to support Palestine in their bid to upgrade its U.N. status to that of an "observer state." The draft resolution is set to be put to the vote later this month in the 193-nation U.N. General Assembly. More about: Armed conflicts, Catherine Ashton, Diplomatic tension, Israel, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, The Gaza Strip