Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has urged Palestinians to unite amid Israel’s war in Gaza, following a meeting with Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Istanbul. Erdogan has maintained links with Haniyeh since 2011, and the two leaders discussed a path to victory that lies in unity and integrity. Tensions in the region are running high, with Gaza bracing for a new Israeli offensive on the southernmost city of Rafah after a reported Israeli attack on Iran last Friday. Erdogan said that recent events should not allow Israel to gain ground and that it’s essential to act in a way that keeps attention on Gaza.
Turkey prioritizes keeping the Gaza crisis on the international agenda. Erdogan asserted that the tension between Iran and Israel should not overshadow what is going on in Gaza. He emphasized that the Turkish side will continue its diplomatic efforts to keep the matter alive in the eyes of the international community. Turkey is one of Gaza’s main humanitarian aid partners, sending 45,000 tonnes of supplies and medicine to the region.
On Saturday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held talks with visiting Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, with both men emphasizing the need to deliver more humanitarian aid to devastated Gaza, where the threat of famine looms. They demanded that the six Israeli crossings with Gaza be opened for humanitarian assistance, stating that the failure to do so violates international law. The two ministers also urged Iran and Israel to exercise restraint after unprecedented direct attacks on each other’s territory raised fears of a regional war.
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