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 meeting will take place at the Dolmabahce palace in Istanbul on Saturday, according to private television channel NTV.
Haniyeh will be Erdogan’s guest during his visit, and the two men are expected to meet and discuss various issues related to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. This meeting marks the second time that Erdogan has hosted Haniyeh, with their previous meeting taking place in July 2023 at the presidential palace in Ankara alongside Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas.
Erdogan is known for his criticism of Israel, and his outspoken criticisms have intensified since the start of the war in Gaza, which was triggered by an attack by Hamas 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 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.
The ongoing support for the Palestinian cause and Erdogan’s criticism of Israel’s actions have further solidified his alignment with Hamas and its leaders. This meeting is likely to be closely watched by both sides as they continue their efforts to find a peaceful solution to one of the most complex conflicts in the Middle East today.
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