Hamas leaders go to Erdogan: name for “unity” towards Israel | EUROtoday

As of 5:31 p.m | Reading time: 2 minutes

Dhe Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has known as on Palestinians to “unify” within the face of the battle within the Gaza Strip. “Unity and integrity” are “the strongest answer to Israel and the path to victory,” stated Erdogan on Saturday in Istanbul after a gathering with the top of the unconventional Islamic Hamas group, Ismail Haniya, in response to the Turkish presidential workplace. Israel should not “gain any territory” within the Gaza battle.

The roughly two-hour assembly happened in Erdogan's workplace within the Dolmabahce Palace, as state broadcaster TRT reported after the dialog ended. According to the report, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin additionally took half. Former Hamas Politburo chief Khaled Mashal will also be seen in photographs from the Turkish presidential workplace. Among different issues, it was about humanitarian help for Gaza and a ceasefire, it was stated.

According to the presidential workplace, the Turkish head of state pledged to proceed humanitarian help for the residents of the Gaza Strip. Erdogan has been certainly one of Israel's harshest critics for the reason that begin of the battle within the Gaza Strip triggered by the Hamas assault on Israel on October seventh. He had condemned the Islamist bloodbath in Israel. The Turkish president nonetheless sees Hamas as a “resistance group”.

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Despite Erdogan's verbal assaults towards the federal government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Turkey has not too long ago made higher efforts to play a mediating position within the Gaza battle. Foreign Minister Fidan had already met Hanija on Wednesday throughout a go to to Qatar. According to Turkish media, it was additionally concerning the launch of Israeli hostages from Gaza.

Hanija has reportedly been dwelling an opulent life in Qatar with a part of his household for years. Hamas' political management is contemplating leaving its present base in Qatar and probably settling in Oman as a substitute, in response to a report in The Wall Street Journal.

If the Hamas political management leaves Qatar, this might jeopardize the fragile talks concerning the launch of dozens of Israeli hostages from Gaza. Israel and Hamas have been not directly negotiating a ceasefire and the discharge of extra hostages for months. Qatar, the USA and Egypt are appearing as mediators. A breakthrough within the negotiations is at present not foreseeable.

According to Israeli info, Hamas, categorized as a terrorist group by the EU and the USA, killed 1,170 folks and kidnapped round 250 others as hostages within the Gaza Strip in its main assault on Israel on October seventh. Since then, Israel has taken large navy motion within the Gaza Strip and has set itself the purpose of destroying Hamas.