Meshaal's visit to Turkey catches media off guard

On Dec. 25, Hamas political bureau chief Khaled Meshaal arrived in Turkey on a visit that was not announced publicly. After receiving a tip, Al-Monitor spoke with two high-level Turkish bureaucrats on condition of anonymity about the meaning of this visit.

One official affiliated with the security apparatus in Turkey told Al-Monitor, “Meshaal arrived in Istanbul and traveled to Ankara the next day. It was not a secret visit, but there was no need to get publicity. However, when the president [Recep Tayyip Erdogan] meets with anyone, we cannot really assume it will remain secret.”

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu appeared on Dec. 27 with Meshaal in Davutoglu's hometown, Konya, for the Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) annual assembly. Known for being conservative, Konya residents jubilantly greeted Meshaal, as reported by Islamist news network Takva Haber: “The democratic and secular Hamas leader reminded Konya residents of their protests in the 1980s in solidarity with Jerusalem."

Turkish mainstream media reported Meshaal’s appearance in Konya as a surprise visit. Meshaal gave a brief but potent speech in which he praised Erdogan and Davutoglu multiple times as the crowd waived Turkish and Palestinian flags, passionately cheering “Allahu akbar" (God is great) and "Down with Israel.” Meshaal said: “A strong Turkey means a strong Jerusalem and a strong Palestine. … Inshallah [God willing], we will liberate Jerusalem together. A strong Turkey is a source of power for all Muslims.”