Photo: Turkish Foreign Ministry press service via AP; AP Photo/Khalil Hamra
On 23 March 2025, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met in Ankara with a delegation of the Palestinian Hamas movement, led by a member of the political bureau of the terrorist organisation, Khalil al-Hayyah. This was reported by the Turkish news agency Anadolu.
Topics of negotiations
According to the agency, the two sides discussed the latest developments in “occupied Palestine” after, in their words, the “Zionist occupation regime” broke the ceasefire and resumed “genocide and aggression” against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. In particular, they referred to the destruction of the Turkish hospital in Gaza, which became one of the key points of accusation against Israel. Hamas and Turkey called these actions part of a systematic policy against the civilian population.
The meeting also touched on US initiatives to achieve a truce in the region. Both sides expressed the opinion that the negotiations had reached a deadlock due to the position of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He was accused of using the famine as a tool to achieve political goals, as well as of sabotaging peace efforts supported by the United States and other international mediators.
Turkey’s context and position
The meeting took place against the backdrop of an escalating conflict in the Gaza Strip, where Israel has stepped up military operations following a series of rocket attacks by Hamas. Turkey, which has traditionally supported the Palestinian cause, has repeatedly condemned Israel’s actions, calling them “disproportionate” and “inhumane”. Ankara also calls for an immediate ceasefire and urges the international community to put pressure on Israel.
Khalil al-Hayyah, one of Hamas’ top leaders, arrived in Turkey to seek Ankara’s support in the face of a new round of escalation. Hamas claims that Israel deliberately broke previous ceasefire agreements brokered by Egypt and Qatar and continues to blockade Gaza, worsening the humanitarian situation
