Turkish President Erdogan Backs Hamas, Says It’s Not A Terrorist Organisation

Ankara: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan asserted on Wednesday that Hamas should not be categorized as a terrorist organisation, emphasizing that it functions as a liberation group defending its territory.

During an address to his party’s lawmakers in the Turkish parliament, Erdogan called for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. He also urged Muslim nations to unite in their efforts to achieve lasting peace in the region.

Erdogan further appealed to the international community to exert pressure on Israel to halt its military actions in Gaza. He expressed his disappointment with the United Nations for its perceived inability to intervene effectively in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

The Turkish president announced the cancellation of his planned visit to Israel, citing Israel’s purported exploitation of Turkey’s goodwill. He emphasized the importance of keeping the Rafah border crossing open for the delivery of humanitarian aid and urged the prompt conclusion of prisoner exchanges between the conflicting parties.

In terms of casualties, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported a significant toll, with approximately 5,791 Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes since October 7, including 2,360 children. In Israel, at least 1,400 people have lost their lives since the conflict escalated on the same date.