Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan Meets Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh, Urges Palestinian Unity

Istanbul:

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Palestinians to unite amid Israel’s warfare in Gaza following hours-long talks with Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Istanbul on Saturday, his workplace stated. 

Erdogan has failed to determine a foothold as a mediator within the Gaza battle that has roiled the area, with the Hamas-run Palestinian territory bracing for a brand new Israeli offensive and a reported Israeli assault on Iran.

Erdogan stated Palestinian unity was “important” following the talks on the Dolmabahce palace on the banks of the Bosphorus strait, which Turkish media reviews stated lasted greater than two and a half hours. 

“The strongest response to Israel and the trail to victory lie in unity and integrity,” Erdogan stated in accordance with a Turkish presidency assertion. 

Hamas — designated a terrorist organisation by america, the European Union and Israel — is a rival of the Fatah faction that guidelines the semi-autonomous Palestinian Authority within the occupied West Financial institution. 

As fears of a wider regional warfare develop, Erdogan stated latest occasions between Iran and Israel shouldn’t permit Israel to “acquire floor and that it is very important act in a means that retains consideration on Gaza”. 

Israeli Overseas Minister Israel Katz condemned the assembly, writing on X: “Muslim Brotherhood alliance: rape, homicide, desecration of corpses and the burning of infants. Erdogan, disgrace on you!” 

Hamas was based by members of the Muslim Brotherhood in 1987.

Shut ties with Haniyeh

With Qatar saying it is going to reassess its function as a mediator between Hamas and Israel, Erdogan despatched Overseas Minister Hakan Fidan to Doha on Wednesday in a brand new signal that he needs a job. 

“Even when solely I, Tayyip Erdogan, stay, I’ll proceed so long as God provides me my life, to defend the Palestinian battle and to be the voice of the oppressed Palestinian folks,” the president stated Wednesday when he introduced Haniyeh’s go to. 

Hamas has had an workplace in Turkey since 2011 when Turkey helped safe the settlement for the group to free Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. 

Erdogan has maintained hyperlinks with Haniyeh, who has been a frequent customer.

Fidan was a previous head of Turkish intelligence and the nation offered info and passports to Hamas officers, together with Haniyeh, in accordance with Sinan Ciddi, a Turkey specialist on the Basis for Protection of Democracies in Washington. 

This has by no means been confirmed by Turkish authorities, nonetheless.

Erdogan slams Israel

If Qatar withdraws from mediation efforts, Turkey may search to extend its mediation profile primarily based on its Hamas hyperlinks.

Fidan on Saturday held talks with visiting Egyptian Overseas Minister Sameh Shoukry, with each males emphasising the necessity to ship extra humanitarian support to devastated Gaza the place the specter of famine looms.

Turkey is considered one of Gaza’s foremost humanitarian support companions, sending 45,000 tonnes of provides and drugs within the area.

Israel has stated it’s making ready an offensive in opposition to the Gazan metropolis of Rafah and the reported Israeli assault on the Iranian province of Isfahan, following Iran’s direct assault on Israel, has solely clouded hopes of a peace breakthrough.

However Erdogan can solely anticipate a “very restricted” function due to his outspoken condemnation of Israel and its actions in Gaza, in accordance with Ciddi.

Final yr, the Turkish chief likened the ways of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to these of Nazi chief Adolf Hitler and referred to as Israel a “terrorist state” due to its offensive in opposition to Hamas after the group’s October 7 assaults on Israel. 

Ciddi stated Erdogan wouldn’t be welcome in Israel and at most may be capable of cross messages between Palestinian and Israel negotiators.

The unprecedented Hamas assaults that sparked the Gaza warfare resulted within the deaths of 1,170 folks in southern Israel, largely civilians, in accordance with an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Hamas additionally took about 250 hostages. Israel estimates 129 stay in Gaza, together with 34 who’re presumed useless.

Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed 34,049 folks in Gaza, largely ladies and kids, in accordance with the Hamas-run territory’s well being ministry.

(Aside from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)