Recep Tayyip Erdogan

THE LEADER of the Hamas militant group Imsail Haniyeh will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saturday (20/4).

The meeting took place amid heated Middle East tensions following Israel’s attack on Iran and Gaza was preparing to face a new Israeli attack.

Erdogan has attempted to establish a foothold as a mediator in the Palestinian conflict, but failed.

Erdogan remained secret regarding his meeting with the Hamas leader.

“We will take care of the agenda between us and Tuan Haniyeh,” Erdogan said when asked by reporters on Friday.

But when Qatar said it would review its role as mediator between Hamas and Israel, Erdogan sent his Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to Doha on Wednesday in a new sign that he is embracing that role.

Also read: Tens of Thousands of Turks Condemn Israeli Killers in Gaza

“Even if only I, Tayyip Erdogan, survives, I will continue as long as God gives me my life, to defend the Palestinian cause and be the voice of the oppressed Palestinian people,” the president said on Wednesday when he announced Hamiyeh’s visit.

Hamas has had an office in Turkey since 2011, Turkey helped secure a deal for the group to free Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

Erdogan maintains a good relationship with Haniyeh, who often visits.

Also read: Erdogan: There is no difference between Netanyahu and Hitler

Foreign Minister Fidan is a former Turkish intelligence chief and the country provided information and passports to Hamas officials, including Haniyeh, according to Sinan Ciddi, a Turkey expert at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington.

However this was never confirmed by the Turkish authorities.

Erdogan criticized Israel

If Qatar withdraws from mediation efforts, Turkey might look to increase its mediation efforts, based on its ties with Hamas and Fidan will hold talks with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.

Also read: Erdogan is reluctant to follow US order to cut ties with Hamas

Israel says it is preparing an attack on the Gaza city of Rafah and reports of an Israeli attack on Iran’s Isfahan province only cloud hopes of a peace breakthrough.

But Erdogan can only expect a “very limited” role due to his outspoken criticism of Israel and its actions in Gaza.

Last year, the Turkish leader likened Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s tactics to those of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and called Israel a “terrorist state” for its attacks on Hamas following the militant group’s attack on Israel on October 7.

Turkish domestic politics and foreign policy expert Sinan Ciddi said Erdogan would not be welcome in Israel and might possibly convey a message between Palestinian and Israeli negotiators.

Ciddi believes that Turkey will also not have a big influence on Hamas in determining the fate of the hostages they have held since October 7.

Hamas attacks resulted in the deaths of 1,170 people in southern Israel, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures.

The militants also took around 250 people hostage. Israel estimates 129 people are still in Gaza, including 34 people thought to be dead.

Israeli counterattacks have killed more than 34,000 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.

According to press reports, which have never been denied, Haniyeh and other Hamas leaders were in Istanbul when the attack was launched.

“They were asked to leave quietly following a photo showed them celebrating the deadly attack,” the report said.

Haniyeh returned to Türkiye 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. (AFP/Z-3)