Erdoğan’s Gaza visit ‘historic’, preparations underway: Hamas PM

GAZA – Anatolia News Agency

Haniyeh argued that Erdoğan had frustrated Washington’s efforts to prevent the visit. Hürriyet archive photo

Gaza Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh described Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s prospective visit as "historic", adding that the Hamas government had already started the preparations. “We will host Erdoğan as Turkey and the Turkish people deserve,” Haniyeh was quoted as saying by Anatolia news agency. 

Haniyeh also argued that Erdoğan had frustrated Washington’s efforts to prevent the visit. “The attitude shown by Erdoğan proves that the tutorship of the United States has come to an end,” he said. 

Haniyeh added that he had not received any notification that Palestinan President Mahmoud Abbas would accompany Erdoğan on his visit to Gaza. 

Erdoğan had announced that his Gaza visit would take place after his talks in Washington on May 16. For his part, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu had said that they hoped that the visit would happen after the reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah.