Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh to meet Erdogan as Turkey Prez seeks greater mediation role

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is all set to meet Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday amid escalating tensions in West Asia with Israel’s reported attack on Iran and Gaza bracing for a new Israeli offensive.

Erdogan, who has been seeking a greater role in mediating after repeated failed attempts, has remained discreet about his meetings with the Hamas head.

“We will keep the agenda between us and Mr Haniyeh,” Erdogan said when questioned by journalists on Friday.

An official source said the pair would meet at the Dolmabahce palace on the banks of the Bosphorus at 2:00 pm. Hamas meanwhile said in a statement that the war in Gaza would figure in the talks.

Earlier this week, Qatar announced that it would reassess its role as a mediator between Israel and the Palestinian terrorist group. Since then, Erdogan has renewed efforts to claim the role by sending Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to Doha on Wednesday.

“Even if only I, Tayyip Erdogan, remain, I will continue as long as God gives me my life, to defend the Palestinian struggle and to be the voice of the oppressed Palestinian people,” the president said Wednesday when he announced Hamiyeh’s looming visit.

Turkey to be a mediator?

With Qatar withdrawing itself from the position of mediator between the two warring parties, Turkey could seek to increase its mediation profile, based on its Hamas links.

Fidan is expected to hold talks with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Saturday to further Turkey’s intentions.

According to Sinan Ciddi, a Turkey specialist at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington, Erdogan can only expect a “very limited” role because of his outspoken condemnation of Israel and its actions in Gaza.

He added that even if Erdogan has what it takes to be a mediator, he will never be welcomed in Israel and at most might be able to pass messages between Palestinian and Israeli negotiators.

With inputs from AFP