War in Gaza: Recep Tayyip Erdogan reaffirms his clear support for Hamas
In the midst of the war in Gaza, Recep Tayyip Erdogan reaffirms his support for Hamas against Israel in unequivocal terms.
In a speech delivered this Saturday, March 9, the Turkish head of state even ensured that he “
stands firmly
” behind the Palestinian group.
Tayyip Erdogan is trying to appease those who, within his own camp, still consider him too conciliatory with the Jewish state.
In a speech delivered this Saturday, March 9, Turkish head of state Recep Tayyip Erdogan assures that he “stands firmly” behind Hamas.
AP - Pavel Golovkin
By: RFI Follow
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With our correspondent in Istanbul,
Anne Andlauer
This is not the first time, far from it, that Recep Tayyip Erdogan has refused to speak of Hamas as a “
terrorist group
” and describes it as a “
resistance group
”.
This is also not the first time that he claims to have links with the political wing of the Palestinian group.
But the Turkish president had never expressed his support in such clear terms, going so far as to boast that Turkey
"
stands
firmly behind the leaders of Hamas
."
Three weeks before local elections where Tayyip Erdogan hopes to reconquer the big cities, these declarations seem above all aimed at his electoral base.
The Turkish president is criticized for a position considered too weak, in actions more than in words, with regard to Israel.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan embarrassed
Some of his supporters are angry with him for having maintained, despite the war in Gaza, his country's trade with the Jewish state.
On February 24, at an election rally, a banner calling for an “
end to the trade of shame
” was immediately removed by the president’s teams.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan is obviously embarrassed by this type of reproach, but he believes that an economic and diplomatic boycott of Israel would harm Turkey's long-term interests.
Read alsoTurkey: new arrests of people accused of spying for the Israeli Mossad
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