The Turkish President repeatedly criticizes Israel and accuses its Prime Minister Netanyahu of committing a “massacre” in the Gaza Strip. Now Erdogan receives Hamas foreign chief Haniya.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met the foreign chief of the Islamist Hamas, Ismail Haniya, in Istanbul on Saturday. The two discussed, among other things, humanitarian aid for Gaza and a ceasefire, as state broadcaster TRT reported after the conversation ended. The meeting, which lasted approximately two hours, took place in Erdogan’s office in the Dolmabahce Palace. According to the report, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin also took part.
Turkey was committed to diplomatic efforts during the meeting with the aim of an immediate ceasefire, Erdogan’s office added in a statement on X (formerly Twitter). The president also called on the Palestinians to unite. The statement did not mention the Israeli hostages in Gaza.
Türkiye is trying to take on the role of mediator
Despite Erdogan’s verbal attacks against the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the v had recently made greater efforts to play a mediating role in the Gaza war. Foreign Minister Fidan had already met Hanija on Wednesday during a visit to Qatar. According to Turkish media, it was also about the release of Israeli hostages from Gaza.
Erdogan publicly supports Hamas. He had condemned the Islamist massacre in Israel on October 7th that left more than 1,200 dead. The Turkish president later repeatedly described the Hamas terrorist organization responsible for this as a liberation organization. Erdogan once again attacked Netanyahu this week and accused him of committing a “massacre” in the Gaza Strip. Israel has repeatedly and firmly rejected Erdogan’s statements.
Is the Hamas leadership leaving Qatar?
According to a report in The Wall Street Journal (Saturday), the Hamas political leadership is considering leaving its current base in Qatar and possibly settling in Oman instead. The Islamists have contacted at least two countries in the region in recent days to ask whether they would be open to the move of Hamas leaders to their capitals, the newspaper reported, citing an unnamed source. Information about a possible reaction from Oman was initially not available. It is also unknown who the Hamas leadership contacted beyond Oman.
Hanija has reportedly been living a luxurious life in Qatar with part of his family for years. If the Hamas political leadership leaves Qatar, this could jeopardize the delicate talks about the release of dozens of Israeli hostages from Gaza. Israel and Hamas have been indirectly negotiating a ceasefire and the release of more hostages for months. Qatar, the USA and Egypt are acting as mediators. A breakthrough in the negotiations is currently not foreseeable.
