ISTANBUL: Hamas political leader Imsail Haniyeh will hold a meeting with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan today with Middle East tensions at a high following Israel’s reported strike on Iran. President Erdogan told the media that they will keep the agenda between them and Haniyeh.
The development takes place when Qatar said that would reassess its role as a mediator between Israel and Hamas. However, Ankara sent his Minister for Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan to Qatar on Wednesday.
“Even if only I, Erdogan, remain, I will continue as long as God gives me my life, to defend Palestinians’ struggle and to be the voice of the oppressed Palestinians,” Turkish President said.
Last year, Erdogan leader likened the tactics of Benjamin Netanyahu to those of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and called Israel a “terrorist state” due to its offensive against Hamas after the group’s October 7 surprise attacks on Israel.
Israel’s offensive has killed over 34,000 people in the Gaza Strip, mostly children and women, Gaza Health Ministry said.
His visit to Turkey comes as Israel launched a missile strike against a site in Iran, US broadcaster ABC News claimed on Friday. Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported blasts in Isfahan. On the other hand, Iranian officials said they shot down several drones and that there had been “no missile strike for now” on Iran, after blasts were heard near Isfahan.
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen called for restraint to avoid further escalation in the region, after reports that Israel has carried out an attack on Iran. In a statement, Ursula von der Leyen that they have to do everything possible so that all parties restrain from the escalation in the region.
Similarly, China said that it opposed any actions that “further escalate tensions”, in the region. China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that Beijing has noted the relevant reports and opposes any actions that further escalate tensions in the region.
Oman also condemned an “Israeli attack” on Iran on Friday after Iranian media reported about explosions heard near the city of Isfahan.
