In a significant diplomatic move, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Wednesday to discuss pressing issues surrounding the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. The talks, held behind closed doors at the presidential palace, focused on establishing a ceasefire and seeking pathways to peace, a day after Abbas’s visit to Moscow.
As the conflict in Gaza enters its 10th month, efforts to secure a ceasefire have been fraught with difficulties. Israel remains on high alert, anticipating potential retaliatory actions from Iran and its allies following the targeted killings of senior Hamas figures in Iran and Lebanon. Against this backdrop, the meeting between Abbas and Erdogan is seen as a crucial step in galvanizing international support for ending the violence.
During the meeting, Erdogan and Abbas condemned what they described as “massacres committed by Israel in Palestinian territories.” They also outlined the necessary steps towards achieving a lasting ceasefire and a broader peace settlement. Erdogan, who has been a vocal critic of Israel’s actions during the conflict, reiterated his stance by referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “the butcher of Gaza.”
Erdogan’s position diverges sharply from that of many Western countries, which view Hamas as a terrorist organization. Instead, Erdogan has characterized Hamas as “a liberation movement,” reflecting Turkey’s more sympathetic stance towards the Palestinian cause. He also criticized the Western world for failing to exert pressure on Israel to halt its military operations, calling the silence of some Western nations “unacceptable.”
Erdogan emphasized the need for all countries, particularly those in the Islamic world, to intensify their efforts to achieve an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and to ensure the continuous delivery of humanitarian aid to Palestinians. His meeting with Abbas comes at a time of heightened tension and international focus on the Gaza crisis.
Following his discussions in Ankara, Abbas is set to address the Turkish parliament in a special session dedicated to the Palestinian issue on Thursday. This follows his recent diplomatic engagements, including a visit to Moscow where he held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
This meeting marks Abbas’s second visit to Turkey at Erdogan’s invitation this year, underscoring the growing collaboration between the Palestinian Authority and Turkey amid the ongoing conflict. As the situation in Gaza remains dire, the outcome of these diplomatic efforts will be closely watched by the international community.
