Hamas leader discusses ceasefire with Turkey
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh turned to Turkey to discuss a ceasefire on April 19th, according to Arab News and agencies.
On April 17th, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Militant group chief Ismail Haniyeh met in Qatar, where the latter lives, to examine a “wide exchange of views in particular about negotiations for a ceasefire”.
According to Fidan, Hamas “must clearly express its expectations, especially about a two-state solution”.
On the same day, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed that he would continue “to defend the Palestinian struggle and to be the voice of the oppressed Palestinian people”.
However, the Turkish President’s stance regarding the conflict has not always been clear.
In January, Turkey was accused of exporting $319 million in goods to Israel, including gunpowder, explosives, weapons and ammunition.
READ: Turkey sends warning to West over Israel stance
In response to the allegations, Turkish Defence Ministry stated on X “It is not possible for the Republic of Turkey, which has always supported Palestine, to carry out or engage in any activity that would harm the Palestinians. The Ministry of National Defence does not have any activities with Israel, including military training, exercises, and defence industry cooperation.”
Turkey’s Directorate of Communications Center for Countering Disinformation claimed that “The products in the 93rd chapter of the alleged export list are not war weapons and ammunition but ungrooved rifle spare parts and accessories and fishing equipment used for individual purposes such as sports and hunting”.
Arab News and agencies
