Turkish prime minister to visit Gaza end of May

ISTANBUL

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. AA Photo

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has announced that he will visit Gaza at the end of May, daily Hürriyet reported today.

Erdoğan had previously said he would probably visit Gaza after his trip to Washington to meet U.S. President Barack Obama on May 16.

Erdoğan had said he planned to go to the enclave in April, in his remarks following the Israeli apology to Turkey over the Mavi Marmara incident of 2010.

Erdoğan’s planned visit to Gaza would be in concert with growing Turkish-Israeli rapprochement as it would complement the Mideast peace process and facilitate détente between rival Palestinian groups, Turkish officials said.

Officials discussed the matter April 7 with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, and U.S. sources said the “timing” of Erdoğan’s visit was important so it would be helpful and constructive in facilitating the peace process.