Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made headlines on Wednesday as he announced that he will be hosting the leader of Palestinian militant group Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, in Turkey this weekend. Erdogan, known for his outspoken criticism of Israel, stated, “The leader of the Palestinian cause will be my guest this weekend,” to lawmakers.
According to reports from private television channel NTV, the meeting between Erdogan and Haniyeh is set to take place on Saturday at the Dolmabahce palace in Istanbul. This will mark their first meeting since July 2023 when they were joined by Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas at the presidential palace in Ankara.
Erdogan’s strong stance against Israel has been evident since the start of the war in Gaza, triggered by Hamas’ attack on Israel in October 2023. The conflict has resulted in a significant loss of lives, with Israeli figures reporting 1,170 casualties, mostly civilians. In response, Israel launched a ground and air offensive, leading to the deaths of at least 33,899 people in Gaza, as reported by the health ministry in the Hamas-run region.
Erdogan’s close relationship with Haniyeh, who is currently based in Qatar, has been evident in his recent offer of condolences for the loss of Haniyeh’s family members in an Israeli strike in Gaza. Erdogan has not held back in his criticism of Israel, labeling it a “terrorist state” and accusing it of committing “genocide” in Gaza. He has also praised Hamas as “liberators” fighting for their land.
The upcoming meeting between Erdogan and Haniyeh is expected to further solidify their alliance and strengthen their stance against Israel in the ongoing conflict in the region.