Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held talks with a senior Hamas delegation Saturday, days before U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's visit to Israel and the UAE this week.
According to media reports, Hamas briefed Erdogan on the "Palestinian cause" while complaining about Israel's plan to annex parts of the West Bank, which has been put on ice as part of the normalization agreement with the UAE.
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Recep Tayyip Erdogan meeting with Hamas' leader Ismail Haniyeh in Istanbul
(Photo: Archive)
The delegation reportedly included Hamas military wing founder Saleh al-Arouri, who is wanted by the U.S. government; the head of Hamas' foreign branch Maher Salah; and the group's representative in Turkey, Jihad Yaghmor.
Hamas told Erdogan that the group was working against what it called the "Judaization of Jerusalem'” by Israel.
Turkey, Iran and Hamas have all expressed opposition to the Israel-UAE announced earlier this month.
Hamas praised Erdogan for holding the meeting, reports said.
Ankara not only provides material backing to Hamas, but it has also granted citizenship to some of its members.