Erdogan meets Palestinian president, Hamas leader in Ankara
Published: 05:07 PM,Jul 26,2023 | EDITED : 09:07 PM,Jul 26,2023
Turkiye's President Tayyip Erdogan and Turkish FM Hakan Fidan meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Palestinian group Hamas' top leader Ismail Haniyeh at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Turkiye. — Reuters
ISTANBUL: Turkiye's leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday spoke with the Palestinian president and the head of Hamas in Ankara, ahead of a crucial meeting of Palestinian factions set for the weekend.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was also due to visit Turkiye this week, but his visit was later postponed, after he had surgery last weekend and as Israel is roiled by protests over contentious judicial reform.
After several years of tensions, relations between Turkiye and Israel have improved over the past year, with several high-level visits, including that of Israel's President Isaac Herzog.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was also at the meeting with Erdogan, which was held behind closed doors, the Turkish leader's office said.
Erdogan on Tuesday promised to continue supporting the Palestinian cause and voiced concerns over the flare up of violence in the West Bank in recent months, after meeting with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas.
'We will continue to support the Palestinian cause in the strongest way possible,' Erdogan said, alongside Abbas.
'We are deeply worried about the increasing loss of live, destruction, the expansion of illegal settlements and settlers violence,' the Turkish leader said.
'The only way to a just and lasting peace in the region is to defend the vision of a two-state solution.'
Erdogan also said Turkiye would do its part for unity and reconciliation between the Palestinian factions.
Meanwhile, Israeli troops killed a Palestinian in the occupied West Bank Wednesday, the Palestinian health ministry said, as the army confirmed it was conducting 'counter-terrorism activity' in a Nablus refugee camp.
'A young man died of his wounds as the occupation forces stormed the city of Nablus at noon,' the ministry said, referring to the Israeli army.
'The martyr, Mohammed Abd al Hakim Nada, was shot in the chest.'
An Israeli army spokesman said that troops had conducted a 'counter-fighting activity in Al Ain camp' in Nablus.
In a separate statement, the army said that during the raid 'suspects fired and hurled rocks and paint bottles at the soldiers, who responded with live fire.
Eyewitnesses said that Israeli forces had stormed the neighbourhood of Al Muhayim and surrounded a house before arresting one Palestinian.
Troops 'apprehended one wanted individual suspected of involvement in terrorist activity,' the army added.
A Palestinian group, the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, said its fighters had 'ambushed a unit of special forces in the alleys of Al Ain camp... and managed to inflict casualties'. — AFP
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was also due to visit Turkiye this week, but his visit was later postponed, after he had surgery last weekend and as Israel is roiled by protests over contentious judicial reform.
After several years of tensions, relations between Turkiye and Israel have improved over the past year, with several high-level visits, including that of Israel's President Isaac Herzog.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was also at the meeting with Erdogan, which was held behind closed doors, the Turkish leader's office said.
Erdogan on Tuesday promised to continue supporting the Palestinian cause and voiced concerns over the flare up of violence in the West Bank in recent months, after meeting with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas.
'We will continue to support the Palestinian cause in the strongest way possible,' Erdogan said, alongside Abbas.
'We are deeply worried about the increasing loss of live, destruction, the expansion of illegal settlements and settlers violence,' the Turkish leader said.
'The only way to a just and lasting peace in the region is to defend the vision of a two-state solution.'
Erdogan also said Turkiye would do its part for unity and reconciliation between the Palestinian factions.
Meanwhile, Israeli troops killed a Palestinian in the occupied West Bank Wednesday, the Palestinian health ministry said, as the army confirmed it was conducting 'counter-terrorism activity' in a Nablus refugee camp.
'A young man died of his wounds as the occupation forces stormed the city of Nablus at noon,' the ministry said, referring to the Israeli army.
'The martyr, Mohammed Abd al Hakim Nada, was shot in the chest.'
An Israeli army spokesman said that troops had conducted a 'counter-fighting activity in Al Ain camp' in Nablus.
In a separate statement, the army said that during the raid 'suspects fired and hurled rocks and paint bottles at the soldiers, who responded with live fire.
Eyewitnesses said that Israeli forces had stormed the neighbourhood of Al Muhayim and surrounded a house before arresting one Palestinian.
Troops 'apprehended one wanted individual suspected of involvement in terrorist activity,' the army added.
A Palestinian group, the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, said its fighters had 'ambushed a unit of special forces in the alleys of Al Ain camp... and managed to inflict casualties'. — AFP