Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the Hamas militant group is not a terrorist organization and he later canceled his planned visit to Israel amid a tense situation in the Middle East.
During his remarks on Wednesday, Erdogan said that Hamas is a liberation group fighting to protect Palestinian lands. Turkey, a member of the global military alliance NATO, condemned the civilian deaths caused by Hamas' attacks on Oct. 7 in southern Israel.
Turkey on Hamas Militant Group
However, Ankara also urged Israeli forces to act restraint in responding to the militant group's assault and strongly criticized Jerusalem's bombardment of Gaza. In a statement, Erdogan said, "Hamas is not a terrorist organization, it is a liberation group."
The Turkish president added that "mujahideen" are waging a battle to protect their lands and people, using an Arabic word that denotes those fighting for their faith. Unlike many of Turkey's NATO allies and the European Union, Ankara does not consider Hamas a terrorist organization, as per Reuters.
It also occasionally hosts group members on its territory, and it currently supports a two-state solution to the decades-old Israel-Palestinian conflict. The Turkish president also criticized Western powers for supporting Jerusalem's bombing of Gaza and called for an immediate ceasefire, the unhindered entry of humanitarian aid to the embattled region, and for Muslim countries to work together to stop the conflict.
Erdogan said that the perpetrators of the massacre and the destruction that is currently taking place in Gaza are those who are providing unlimited support for Israel. He added that the attacks on Gaza amount to murder and mental illness for both itself and those supporting them.
On the other hand, Israel rejected the Turkish president's description of the Hamas militant group. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lior Haiat called the group a "despicable terrorist organization."
Fighting in Gaza
After making the remarks about Hamas, Erdogan also canceled his plans to visit Israel because of its "inhumane" war. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan accused Israel of "a crime against humanity" in its campaign in Gaza, according to the Times of Israel.
Fidan noted that this crime was because Israel targeted Palestinians, including children, patients, and the elderly, even in schools, hospitals, and mosques. The Turkish foreign minister spoke alongside Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani.
The situation comes as humanitarian aid to Gaza faces obstacles, with only eight trucks making it into the region overnight. Additionally, hospitals in the region are increasingly overwhelmed with the wounded.
United States President Joe Biden has called for more aid into Gaza and assurances that the help reaches those who need it most. The Democrat added that his country was working with regional partners to ensure that happens.
On Wednesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that nearly a third of Gaza's hospitals were not functioning. According to the New York Times, the agency added that seven major hospitals were well over capacity, risking patient safety.
