1/21/2024–|Last updated: 1/21/202404:36 PM (Mecca time)
Head of the Political Bureau of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), Ismail Haniyeh, met yesterday, Saturday, with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Turkey, diplomatic sources reported on Sunday.
The sources explained that the talks held by Haniyeh dealt with the “release” of detainees in the Gaza Strip, noting that the last talks between Haniyeh and Fidan dated back to October 16 and took place via telephone call.
The sources stated, “During the meeting, issues were discussed such as adopting a ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible, increasing humanitarian aid, releasing detainees, and a two-state solution for lasting peace.”
For its part, Hamas said in a statement that a delegation from the movement led by Haniyeh met with Fidan yesterday evening, Saturday, where they discussed political and field developments related to the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and ways to stop it.
Among what Haniyeh discussed with Minister Fidan was achieving the political goals and aspirations of the Palestinian people by establishing their independent, fully sovereign state with Jerusalem as its capital, and the right to self-determination.
Since the outbreak of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has sought to mediate, but his efforts have not found a way to be implemented due to his positions against Israel, describing it as a “terrorist state.”
The United States called on Israel to reduce its attack on Gaza, and said that the establishment of a Palestinian state must be part of the post-war phase, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his explicit rejection of, demanding full Israeli control over the Strip.
The ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip for more than 3 months left 24,927 martyrs, 62,388 injured, and a humanitarian and health disaster. It also caused the displacement of about 1,900,000 people, meaning more than 85% of the Gaza Strip’s population.