Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is reportedly engaged in negotiations with Hamas, aiming to secure the release of around 150 Israeli hostages. They were abducted by Gazan terrorists.
Turkish news site Haberturk disclosed that Erdogan has directed talks for the release of the hostages and has been actively involved in efforts to prevent the situation from escalating.
Despite a recent rapprochement with Israel, Erdogan remains broadly supportive of Hamas and has avoided criticizing the group over its massacre of 1,200 Israelis, including hundreds of civilians, according to The Times of Israel.
Earlier, The Turkish President expressed disapproval of the West for “blindly” siding with Israel and called for restraint from both sides.
Erdogan also criticized Israel’s blockade and bombings in Gaza as disproportionate and a violation of morality, offering Ankara’s mediation services while urging countries worldwide to adopt a fair and humanitarian stance between the parties involved.
While Turkey has been working to mend its relationship with Israel, it differs from the EU and the US by not classifying Hamas as a terrorist organization. Instead, it emphasizes the importance of creating an independent, sovereign Palestinian state as the path to peace.
Erdogan further warned against leaving the root issues unresolved, as it could lead to more violent conflicts. Additionally, he urged global powers to refrain from actions that could harm the Palestinian people, such as blocking humanitarian aid.
Furthermore, he engaged in negotiations with Jordan’s King Abdullah, highlighting the necessity of vigilance against the potential spread of conflicts to a wider region.
Hamas’ Threats to Kill Israeli Hostages
On Monday, Hamas issued a threat, vowing to execute hostages if Israel launched airstrikes in the Gaza Strip without prior warnings to residents. The Al-Qassam brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, warned they would begin executing an Israeli civilian captive in retaliation for any Israeli bombings of civilian homes without pre-warning.
In response, Israel ordered a “complete siege” of the Gaza Strip, retaliating for the largest and deadliest incursion into its territory in decades. Israeli Defense Forces struck over two hundred targets in Gaza, launching airstrikes on numerous terrorist organization facilities. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced the cessation of electricity, food, water, and fuel supplies to Gaza, intensifying the existing sixteen-year blockade enforced by Israel and Egypt.
As the conflict escalated, the United States began delivering essential munitions and military equipment to Israel. Additionally, President Joe Biden confirmed the loss of at least eleven American citizens in the recent violence, underscoring the gravity of the situation.