Ankara - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday warned of the Middle East getting trapped in a "spiral of violence" ahead of a regional tour aimed at exerting pressure on Israel to stop its military operations in Gaza.

"Developments in the Gaza Strip are very dangerous for regional peace ... we cannot remain silent," Erdogan said before leaving for Syria.

"We are concerned that the Middle East will become trapped in a spiral of violence. The aim of this tour is to bring about an end to this dangerous situation," Erdogan said.

Erdogan was to travel to Syria, Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Erdogan denied that he was to meet exiled Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal in Damascus but said he would be meeting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Jordan. (dpa)