Ankara (The Palestine Information Centre) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has held a joint meeting with the Palestinian president and the head of the Hamas political bureau, pushing for unity among Palestinian factions ahead of a summit of Palestinian factions set for the weekend.
The meeting with Mahmoud Abbas and Ismail Haniyeh was held in the presidential complex in the capital Ankara on Wednesday, during which Erdogan offered condolences over the killing of Palestinians in attacks by Israeli security forces and settlers, and wished a speedy recovery for the injured.
“Pointing out the importance of the unity and solidarity of the Palestinian people, President Erdogan stated that those who seek to undermine the peace process benefit from Palestinian division,” tweeted Turkey’s Communications Directorate after the meeting.
Erdogan underlined that Turkey did not accept the ongoing Israeli blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip, adding that Ankara was closely monitoring developments in occupied East al-Quds and al-Aqsa Mosque.
The meeting was held in the run-up to a meeting of Palestinian factions scheduled to be held in Cairo on July 30.
