Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced that he will be hosting the leader of the Palestinian group Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, in Turkey this upcoming weekend. The two men are expected to meet at the Dolmabahce palace in Istanbul on Saturday, as reported by private television channel NTV. This meeting will mark the second time Erdogan has hosted Haniyeh, with the previous meeting taking place in July 2023 in the presidential palace in Ankara alongside Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas.
Erdogan’s outspoken criticisms of Israel have intensified since the start of the war in Gaza, prompted by an attack by the group on Israel in October 7, 2023. Hamas-run Gaza has reported significant casualties due to Israel’s response, with thousands of lives lost, mostly women and children. Erdogan has built a strong alliance with Haniyeh, who is based in Qatar, offering his condolences to him last week for the loss of his family members in an Israeli strike.
The Turkish leader’s ongoing support for the Palestinian cause and his criticism of Israel’s actions have further solidified his alignment with Hamas and its leaders. Erdogan has not held back in condemning Israel as a “terrorist state” and accusing it of committing “genocide” in Gaza. He has referred to Hamas fighters as “liberators” or “mujahideen” fighting for their land. This visit is seen as a gesture of solidarity with Palestine and its people.
This visit comes at a time when tensions between Turkey and Israel are high due to various issues such as Syria’s civil war and Operation Olive Branch (also known as Operation Peace Spring) launched by Turkey against Kurdish militias linked to the Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK) on October 9th 2019.
In conclusion, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s decision to host Ismail Haniyeh reflects his strong stance against Israel’s actions and his unwavering support for Palestine’s cause for independence from Israeli occupation.
