Turkey courts Hamas despite US pressure
Despite US and Israeli criticism of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s meeting with the Hamas leadership, the relationship between Turkey and Hamas remains strong.
The relationship between Hamas and Turkey has recently witnessed political and media developments, in tandem with accelerating regional events, in both the internal Palestinian arena and Turkey’s regional policy.
Most recently, the US State Department issued Aug. 25 a statement read by its spokeswoman, Morgan Ortagus, lashing out at Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent meeting with Hamas officials in Istanbul.
“The United States strongly objects to Turkish President Erdogan hosting two Hamas leaders in Istanbul on August 22,” the statement said. “President Erdogan’s continued outreach to this terrorist organization only serves to isolate Turkey from the international community.” The statement also labeled the Hamas officials who visited Erdogan as “Specially Designated Global Terrorists.”
A Hamas leadership delegation headed by the chief of its political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, met Erdogan Aug. 22 at Vahid al-Din Palace in Istanbul. The delegation briefed him on the developments related to the Palestinian cause. Haniyeh praised Turkey’s role in supporting the Palestinian people. He also congratulated it on the recent discovery of a new gas field in the Black Sea, and the opening July 24 of the Hagia Sophia Mosque.
