ISTANBUL, Turkey, Apr 20 ― Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh will meet Turkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan right this moment with Middle East tensions at a excessive after Israel’s reported assault on Iran and Gaza bracing for a brand new Israeli offensive.
Erdogan has sought however failed to set up a foothold as a mediator within the Palestinian battle. And he has remained discreet about his conferences with the Hamas head.
“We will hold the agenda between us and Mr Haniyeh,” Erdogan stated when questioned by journalists yesterday.
An official supply stated the pair would meet on the Dolmabahce palace on the banks of the Bosphorus at 2:00 pm (1100 GMT). Hamas in the meantime stated in a press release that the conflict in Gaza would determine within the talks.
With Qatar saying it is going to reassess its position as a mediator between Hamas and Israel, Erdogan despatched Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to Doha on Wednesday in a brand new signal that he needs a task.
“Even if solely I, Tayyip Erdogan, stay, I’ll proceed so long as God provides me my life, to defend the Palestinian battle and to be the voice of the oppressed Palestinian folks,” the president stated Wednesday when he introduced Hamiyeh’s looming go to.
Hamas has had an workplace in Turkiye since 2011 when Turkiye helped safe the settlement for the group to free Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Erdogan has maintained hyperlinks with Haniyeh, who has been a frequent customer.
Fidan was a previous head of Turkish intelligence and the nation offered data and passports to Hamas officers, together with Haniyeh, in accordance to Sinan Ciddi, a Turkiye specialist on the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington. This has by no means been confirmed by Turkish authorities, nevertheless.
File picture of a Palestinian lady looking for her belongings after her residence was destroyed in an Israeli raid, amid the continuing battle between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Nuseirat, within the central Gaza Strip, April 18, 2024. ― eNM pic
Erdogan slams Israel
If Qatar withdraws from mediation efforts, Turkiye might search to enhance its mediation profile, based mostly on its Hamas hyperlinks, and Fidan will right this moment hold talks with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.
Israel has stated it’s making ready an offensive towards the Gaza metropolis of Rafah and the reported Israeli assault on the Iranian province of Isfahan has solely clouded hopes of a peace breakthrough.
But Erdogan can solely anticipate a “very restricted” position due to his outspoken condemnation of Israel and its actions in Gaza, in accordance to Ciddi.
Last 12 months, the Turkish leader likened the techniques of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to these of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and referred to as Israel a “terrorist state” due to its offensive towards Hamas after the militant group’s October 7 assaults on Israel.
Ciddi stated Erdogan wouldn’t be welcome in Israel and at most would possibly have the opportunity to go messages between Palestinian and Israel negotiators.
The skilled stated that Turkiye wouldn’t have a serious affect both over Hamas in deciding the destiny of hostages it has held since October 7.
The Hamas assaults resulted within the deaths of 1,170 folks in southern Israel, principally civilians, in accordance to an eNM tally of Israeli official figures.
Hamas additionally took about 250 hostages. Israel estimates 129 stay in Gaza, together with 34 who’re presumed lifeless.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed greater than 34,000 folks in Gaza, principally girls and youngsters. in accordance to the Hamas-run territory’s well being ministry.
According to press experiences, which have by no means been denied, Haniyeh and different Hamas leaders had been in Istanbul when the assaults had been launched. They had been requested to quietly depart after a photograph confirmed them celebrating the lethal assault, the report stated.
Haniyeh returned to Turkiye in January and met Fidan.
The Hamas chief has not met Erdogan since he and Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas held talks with the Turkish president in July 2023. ― eNM
