The US State Department has condemned the Turkish president’s recent meeting with senior members of the Palestinian militant group Hamas as one that “only serves to isolate Turkey” on the world stage. 

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed a Hamas delegation to Istanbul on Saturday for his second high-profile meeting since February with the group, which has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007. 

“The United States strongly objects to Turkish President Erdogan hosting two Hamas leaders in Istanbul,” State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said in a statement today. “President Erdogan’s continued outreach to this terrorist organization only serves to isolate Turkey from the international community, harms the interests of the Palestinian people, and undercuts global efforts to prevent terrorist attacks launched from Gaza.” 

The delegation Saturday included Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh and his deputy Salah al-Arouri, both of whom are listed as specially designated terrorists by the US government. Arouri is wanted in connection with several terrorist attacks, hijackings and kidnappings, and the State Department has offered up to $5 million for information leading to his whereabouts.