Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that he will be hosting the leader of the Palestinian group Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, in Turkey this upcoming weekend. Erdogan, known for his criticism of Israel, stated that Haniyeh will be his guest during this visit. 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.
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. 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.