Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Hamas' top political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Istanbul to discuss efforts to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza and the pressing need for a ceasefire. This meeting marked their first encounter since Israel's military invasion into Gaza on October 7, triggered by a Hamas attack. Prior to this, Haniyeh had talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Doha.
President Erdogan reiterated Turkey's commitment to diplomatic initiatives aimed at raising global awareness about the plight of Palestinians. He emphasized the urgency of halting the ongoing atrocities and stressed the necessity for a lasting ceasefire. The Turkish presidency released a statement highlighting Erdogan's efforts to address the suffering in Gaza.
Erdogan mentioned that Turkey had already delivered over 45,000 tons of humanitarian aid to Gaza in an attempt to alleviate the hardships faced by the Palestinian population. He assured that Turkey would continue its aid efforts to support the people of Gaza during these challenging times.
