ISTANBUL: Turkey said Wednesday that it was ready to give Lebanon the "necessary support for the establishment of internal peace" hours after a ceasefire with Israel came into force.

Turkey has become an outspoken critic of Israeli leaders since the Gaza war erupted in Oct 2023 and it called on Israel to pay for the damage caused in Lebanon.

Its foreign ministry hailed the halt in fighting that has killed thousands in Lebanon and said it hoped the ceasefire "will be permanent."

The international community must "exert pressure on Israel to fully comply with the ceasefire and to provide reparations for the damages it has caused," the government added.

The ministry also insisted that for "regional peace and stability, a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire must be declared in Gaza as soon as possible and Israel must cease its aggressive policies."

The Lebanon war escalated after a year of cross-border fire initiated by Hizbollah in support of its Palestinian ally Hamas, whose attack on Israel in October last year sparked the devastating Gaza war.

US President Joe Biden said Tuesday that Turkey was among a number of countries trying to broker a truce in Gaza "with Egypt, Qatar and others" and to free the hostages held by Hamas.

The Palestinian fighter group said Wednesday it was "ready for a ceasefire agreement and a serious deal to exchange prisoners" with Israel, adding that it had "informed mediators in Egypt, Qatar and Turkey."

Ankara, which has long had relations with Hamas, did not comment.

  - AFP