(Adnkronos) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received the president of the Hamas Political Bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, at the presidential office in Dolmabahce, in Istanbul. During the meeting, which lasted 2.5 hours, issues related to the ceasefire and humanitarian aid in Gaza were discussed. The Turkish newspaper Hurriyet writes this, adding that Erdogan declared that Turkey will continue to make all possible efforts to create an independent Palestinian state, which is the key to permanent peace in the region.
The Turkish president and the political leader of Hamas discussed measures designed to ensure an “adequate and uninterrupted” supply of aid to Gaza and “fair and lasting” peace in the region. Turkey is committed to diplomatic efforts for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza, Erdogan assured during the meeting, which was also attended by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin.
“Israel will ultimately inevitably pay the price for the oppression it inflicts on the Palestinians,” Erdogan said, as quoted by Anadolu.
Meanwhile, Israeli air attacks on the city of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, are increasing, where at least ten Palestinians were killed during the night. The raids targeted the eastern part of the city, a densely populated area with many displaced families who have found refuge in residential houses or tents, but also the western part, where the vast majority of displaced families have taken refuge since the start of the war.
Meanwhile, the political leadership of Hamas is apparently considering the possibility of leaving Qatar – the country that has hosted the group since 2012 – while the emirate is increasingly under pressure due to the stalemate in negotiations with Israel. This was revealed by the Wall Street Journal, which cites Arab sources, according to which the group has contacted at least two countries in the region in recent days, asking for their willingness to host the political office of Hamas. One of the two countries would be Oman, which did not want to comment on the American newspaper’s indiscretions.
If Hamas leaves Qatar, the move could undermine talks to free Israeli hostages held captive in Gaza since October 7 and would likely make it more difficult for Israel and the United States to convey messages to the group. Hamas leaders have lived in Doha, the capital of Qatar, since 2012, in a US-backed arrangement. “The talks have already stalled again, with almost no sign or prospect of resumption any time soon, and mistrust between Hamas and the negotiators is growing,” said an Arab mediator familiar with the situation.
In recent days, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani had made it known that the emirate is reevaluating its role as mediator between Israel and Hamas, denouncing that “some politicians are using us for their objectives”. To the accusations of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Doha of not being an impartial mediator, were added the criticisms of some American politicians, who ask that Qatar interrupt relations with Hamas, while in recent days a proposal was presented to the United States Congress bill to withdraw the emirate’s status as a major non-NATO ally until it expels all Hamas leaders or hands them over to the American authorities.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces bombed the city of al-Mughraqa, north of the Nuseirat refugee camp. This was reported to Jazeera Arabic. Shortly before, an Israeli airstrike had hit the Nuseirat camp, destroying at least three houses.
At least 34,049 Palestinians have been reported killed and 76,901 injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. This was reported by the Strip’s Ministry of Health, run by Hamas, adding that 37 people were killed and 68 injured in the last 24 hours.
Tags: Gaza Erdogan sees political leader Hamas Israel pay price oppression
