Day: April 21, 2024

ANKARA: Voters hit the polling stations across the Maldives as polling in the parliamentary election began on Sunday morning, local media reported.

Some 368 candidates, including 42 women of six political parties, are vying for 93 seats in the parliament, reported local English daily The Sun.

Over 280,000 voters are eligible to cast their votes, according to the election authorities.

The South Asian country has set up 602 polling stations across the constituencies, while three are stationed overseas in Sri Lankan capital Colombo, Trivandrum in India, and Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.

Polls opened at 8 a.m. (local time) and will close at 5:30 p.m.

The elections are viewed as crucial for President Mohamed Muizzu, whose policies are keenly watched by regional heavyweights India and China, which vie for influence in the archipelago nation.

Both countries are seeking a toehold in the Maldives, which has a strategic location in the Indian Ocean.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Cyprus is trying to play the role of a mediator, making it clear to all parties involved that a further escalation in the region is not in the interest of any country and that this crisis cannot be settled by military means, President Nikos Christodoulides said on the situation in the Middle East.

In an interview with the German Network of Journalists (RND), President Christodoulides expressed hope that the conflict in the Middle East will not escalate and stressed that Cyprus, which is the EU member-state with the closest proximity to the region, maintains excellent relations with all parties involved.

Regarding the use of two British military bases in Cyprus, he stated that there is no prior information that the British will use them, and clarified that Cyprus is not involved in any way in military actions.

President Christodoulides also announced that the maritime corridor from Cyprus for the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza “can be restarted very soon”, as the temporary port off Gaza, which is a US
military construction, will be made available.

Christodoulides further said he is not satisfied with the EU’s engagement on the Middle East issue so far, stressing that the Union should play a much more important role in both the de-escalation of the crisis and the negotiations for the two-state solution.

He pointed out that the EU has been very focused on Ukraine, something which he fully supports, however if it wants to play a leading role in geopolitical matters, it should be able to manage two or three crises simultaneously.

The crisis in the Middle East has implications for the security of Europe, but also in the field of migration, the President of the Republic noted, while he welcomed the fact that on 2 May he will visit Lebanon together with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, where they will announce – on Cyprus’ initiative – a specific package of EU economic measures, including support for Lebanese institutions, for example the Lebanese armed forces, which are a factor
of stability.

“It is a long-term plan, and Lebanon and the EU must keep their commitments for it to succeed,” Christodoulides stressed, explaining that the aim of the agreement is for the EU to assist Lebanon in managing migration, so that no more migrants come to Cyprus.

“It’s a really important issue because in the last two or three months Syrians have been arriving almost daily from Lebanon to Cyprus. But we are an island country and (these) people remain in Cyprus”, the President of the Republic noted, saying that currently 7% of the population of Cyprus are immigrants.

Asked whether Cyprus has reached its limits in terms of refugee reception, President Christodoulides replied: “Enough is enough. We are not in a position to accept any more Syrian refugees. We are at our limits and we can no longer manage this flow of refugees. That’s why I asked the EU for help and decided to suspend the processing of new asylum applications. For us it is a matter of national security. We are no longer in a position to
meet this challenge”.

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Cyprus’s accession to the EU, he described the accession as the most important positive development since the founding of the Republic of Cyprus in 1960 and underlined that Cyprus would not have been able to cope with various challenges, such as the coronavirus pandemic and the need to supply vaccines or the economic crisis, if it were not a member of the EU.

He also noted that he has a close relationship with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whom he thanks for his support for Nicosia’s efforts to resume negotiations aiming to solve the Cyprus issue.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres appointed María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar of Columbia as his personal envoy for Cyprus, to assum
e a Good Offices role on his behalf and search for common ground on the way forward in the Cyprus issue.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

ANKARA: Two members of the terrorist group PKK surrendered to Turkish security forces in the country’s southeast, the Turkish National Defense Ministry said on Sunday.

The terrorists fled PKK shelters in northern Iraq and surrendered to a police station at the Habur border gate in Sirnak’s Silopi district, the ministry said in a statement.

PKK terrorists often hide out in northern Iraq, near the Turkish borders, to plot attacks on Turkish soil.

In recent years, Trkiye has noted its success in defeating the terrorist PKK at home and abroad, and also pointed to a rising number of PKK members abandoning the terror group and surrendering to Turkish forces. It stressed that such defectors may benefit from Trkiye’s penitence law.

In its nearly 40-year terror campaign against Trkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Trkiye, the US, and the EU – has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Cyprus’ Minister of Foreign Affairs, Constantinos Kombos, will participate in the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting taking place on Monday in Luxembourg. He will also attend the EU- Gulf Cooperation Council High Level Forum and he will have separate meetings with officials of the GCC member states.

According to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs press release, the focus of the discussions during the Foreign Affairs Council meeting will be the situation in the Middle East and the latest developments in Sudan. The press release said that a joint meeting between the EU Foreign and Defence Ministers will also be held to discuss the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine.

The EU-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) High Level Forum on Regional Security and Cooperation will convene after the Foreign Affairs Council’s meeting. The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the EU Foreign Ministers, the Secretary General of the GCC, the Foreign Ministers of the GCC member states, as well as the EU Sp
ecial Representative for the Gulf will attend the Forum.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

ISTANBUL: Hamas on Sunday claimed responsibility for a rocket fire from Lebanon on Upper Galilee in northern Israel.

The group’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, said 20 Grad rockets were launched from Lebanon at an Israeli army base near the town of Shomera.

It said the rocket fire was in response to ‘massacres committed by the Israeli enemy’ in Gaza and the West Bank.

Ismail Al-Thawabteh of Gaza’s government media office told Anadolu early Sunday that around 150 people killed by the Israeli army had been found in two mass graves at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

The Israeli army had withdrawn from Khan Younis on April 7 after a 4-month ground offensive in the city.

Israel has launched a brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, 2023 following a Hamas attack that killed nearly 1,200 people.

Nearly 34,100 people have since been killed and 77,000 others injured amid mass destructions and severe shortages of necessities.

Around 500 Palestinians have also been killed
and more than 4,900 others injured by Israeli fire in the occupied West Bank since Oct. 7, according to the Health Ministry.

The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala

Source: Anadolu Agency

Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment Minister, Maria Panayiotou, has pledged the government’s commitment to creating a greener future and encouraged all to take action towards this end.

She was speaking on Sunday at the inaugural ceremony of a park in Lakatamia, in honour of the late Vassos Lyssarides, prominent politician and founder of Socialist EDEK party.

Panayiotou said that this park was chosen to be dedicated to Vassos Lyssarides to be an inspiration for his struggles and his love for nature.

By launching this park, she said, “we underline our commitment to creating a greener and more resilient tomorrow by encouraging everyone to take action”.

At the same time, she said that it is “our priority to strengthen the green cores in our cities, as they contribute to achieving our goal of improving the quality of life and harmony between man and the environment”.

It is for this reason that the Government welcomes and actively supports, she said, “any effort that leads to the construction of
green spaces that help protect and preserve the natural and biological diversity of the area, creating a space that allows bees and our other pollinators to grow and thrive, providing a safe source of food”.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

ISTANBUL: Preliminary work has been done on more than 20 agreements Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to sign during his visit to Iraq on Monday, said the Turkish foreign minister.

‘We have currently completed pre-agreements for the implementation and signing of more than 20 agreements during our president’s visit,’ Hakan Fidan told reporters on Sunday. ‘Tomorrow, hopefully, these agreements will be signed in the presence of political leaders.’

Fidan also pointed to long-standing efforts to reach agreements in fields such as security, energy, agriculture, water, health, and education.

‘Our goal is to have a relationship where regional stability, prosperity, and development are possible, to institutionalize our relations in this way, and to do our best for the development and prosperity of the region,’ he added.

Turkish-Iraqi ties

Fidan said Monday will mark the first visit since 2011 by the Turkish head of state. Erdogan visited the country that year while he was still prime minister.

“Both
the Iraqi side and the Turkish side have attached great importance to this visit for a long time and have been preparing for it. There are ongoing intensive efforts,’ he said.

Fidan highlighted that Trkiye aims for Erdogan’s visit to Iraq to be as productive as possible, underscoring that his vision for bilateral relations reflects Trkiye’s vision for the region.

Highlighting Ankara’s support for the steps taken by Sudani’s government for development and political stability, Fidan stated: “Iraq has gone through very difficult periods for many years. It’s been very challenging to achieve political stability. When there is no political stability, there are also significant problems in delivering the basic services that the people need.”

Trkiye’s readiness to support Iraq

Despite Iraq’s significant potential and opportunities, Fidan said that Iraq has faced major challenges in delivering basic services to the population.

He said the current Iraqi government has developed a strong awareness of this issue.

T
he Iraqi and Turkish governments have been discussing what can be done to address these challenges, he said.

He underlined that Trkiye is committed to providing “all kinds of support” for the development of sectors in Iraq such as irrigation, education, health, infrastructure, trade, and energy.

Fidan also said there have been intensive contacts between the countries’ Cabinet ministers, bureaucrats, and businessmen.

At this “mature point,” there is agreement on Erdogan’s visit to Iraq and the signing of a strategic framework agreement, he said.

Regional stability and prosperity

Fidan highlighted that the countries’ strategic framework agreement will outline a strategic vision of how cooperation can be conducted in multiple areas simultaneously.

“This will constitute an important roadmap for the future of the two countries’ relations,’ he said. ‘We aim to advance our relations by institutionalizing them, moving away from success through coincidence, making them more systematic, and demonstrating lasting
benefits in relations between the two countries,’ he said.

Fidan stressed the desire to avoid associating the region and Iraq with internal turmoil, war, or conflict, expressing hope for economic development and political stability to be the primary focus.

Pointing to Trkiye seeking cooperation in the fight against terrorism, Fidan noted that they are in extensive discussions with Baghdad on how significant strides can be made in combating terrorism without disturbing Iraq’s existing political balances.

Contacts with Iraq

Fidan recalled his visit to Iraq this March alongside National Defense Minister Guler, National Intelligence Organization head Kalin, and Deputy Interior Minister Karaloglu, and also a visit to Ankara by Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and representatives from the Iraqi Defense Ministry, intelligence, and other security agencies.

‘We extensively discussed the strategic framework of President Erdogan’s visit to Iraq with our Iraqi counterparts. We believe that Iraqi-Turkish relations
will set an important example in our region.

‘Especially with the Development Road Project, which our president attaches great importance to, we believe that it will serve as a significant example for both the people of Iraq and the people of the region if implemented,’ he said, referring to a project to connect the Persian Gulf from the al-Faw Grand Port by land routes to Trkiye.

Fidan expressed the need for the region to be associated with development, technology, prosperity, stability, culture, and art rather than conflicts and instability, stating that they strive for this.

Iraq’s support for Trkiye on Gaza issue

Saying that Israel’s ongoing attacks on Gaza will also be discussed during Erdogan’s visit to Iraq, Fidan stressed that Ankara and Baghdad share the same feelings on Gaza.

Fidan said Iraq supports Trkiye on Gaza within the international system, as it votes in coordination with Trkiye.

During Erdogan’s visit to Iraq, he will travel to both Baghdad, the nation’s capital, and Erbil, capital of
the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq.

“During President Erdogan’s visit to Erbil, especially in meetings with regional government officials, I am confident that they will share their vision on strengthening our relationship and reminding them of their role in ensuring internal stability and peace in Iraq,’ said Fidan.

Erdogan will hold a working meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al Sudani in Baghdad, followed by the signing of agreements, said Fidan.

The Turkish president will also meet with his Iraqi counterpart Abdul Latif Rashid.

Source: Anadolu Agency

President of the House of Representatives, Annita Demetriou is in Spain to participate in the Conference of Speakers of the European Union Parliaments, which is taking place between 21-23 of April in Palma de Mallorca. During the Conference, she will inform her counterparts about the increased migration flows to Cyprus.

On Sunday she will participate in a Meeting of the Women Speakers of the Parliaments of the EU member states that will focus on women leadership.

According to a press release issued by the House of Representatives, the Conference will focus on the strategic autonomy of the EU in the face of new challenges for liberal democracies in the era of social media and artificial intelligence, in relation to foreign and defence policy, Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East’ and on strengthening the EU from an economic and social perspective, the new EU fiscal rules and strengthening the Economic and Monetary Union, in the context of the enlargement perspective, socia
l rights and environmental and climate challenges.

The Conference will conclude with the adoption of Conclusions.

In the context of the Conference, Demetriou will inform her counterparts about the increased immigration flows of Syrians from Lebanon to Cyprus.

In addition, following an initiative of the House of Representatives President, a joint meeting will be held on the same issue with the Presidents/Vice-Presidents of the Parliaments of the member countries of the South (Cyprus, Greece, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Malta) on the sidelines of the Conference, with the participation of the European Parliament, during which they will exchange views on the possibility of taking joint actions on the matter.

Demetriou will also have private meetings with the Speaker of the Danish Parliament, Søren Gade Jensen, and the President of the Czech Senate, Miloš Vystrcil.

She will return to Cyprus on Wednesday.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

ISTANBUL: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Sunday called on the international community to oppose the US veto on Palestine’s UN bid, and recognize the state of Palestine.

‘It is unjust that Palestine is not allowed to become a member of the UN. We call on the international community to oppose this injustice, and recognize the state of Palestine,’ said Fidan in a joint news conference with his Mauritanian counterpart Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug in Istanbul.

During a meeting with Merzoug, Fidan said they discussed the ‘ongoing massacre in Gaza,’ adding: ‘Just like Trkiye, Mauritania also adopts a sensitive policy regarding the Palestinian issue, particularly the situation in Gaza, and provides all possible support.’

Fidan further said Trkiye and Mauritania are in ‘great solidarity’ on Gaza, adding: ‘We will continue our cooperation for an urgent cease-fire and uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid.”

He also said the two nations’ efforts will continue ‘uninterrupted until an independent and sovere
ign Palestinian state, with its capital in East Jerusalem and territorial integrity, is established based on the 1967 borders.”

Trkiye-Mauritania relations

Mauritania stands out as a ‘stabilizing factor’ in the region, Fidan stressed, and said Trkiye will continue to exert significant efforts, including enhancing security cooperation and economic collaboration, for the stability and prosperity of the region.

Fidan further said they had the opportunity to thoroughly evaluate the bilateral relations during the meeting, adding that they reaffirmed their determination to enhance cooperation in all fields, particularly in economic and commercial matters.

‘We aim to organize the first joint economic commission meeting as soon as possible, and have reached an agreement on this matter as well,’ he added.

Fidan underlined the contribution of Turkish Airlines’ flights to Mauritania to the economic relations between the two countries, highlighting the importance of fisheries.

He mentioned that fisheries and aquacu
lture were discussed during the meeting, and the importance of convening a joint commission for these areas was also stressed.

Trkiye’s efforts to further strengthen its humanitarian bonds with ‘our Mauritanian brothers’ continue, Fidan said, noting that the number of students enrolled in schools operated by the Turkish Maarif Foundation reached 1,224.

‘We are also delighted by the fact that our Mauritanian brothers are studying in Trkiye with scholarships, further enhancing our ties,’ he said.

Mauritania assumed the presidency of the African Union (AU) last February, Fidan recalled, and stressed Trkiye’s emphasis on working together with Mauritania in various organizations such as the UN, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the AU.

The minister said the strategic partnership with the AU, which has been in place since 2008, continues to be developed, adding that Mauritania’s presidency presents an opportunity in this regard.

He conveyed the goal of holding a Trkiye-AU ministerial review meeting
in the final quarter of the year and that he has held consultations with his counterpart regarding this matter.

Sahel region also discussed

Fidan underscored Ankara’s importance in establishing peace, security, prosperity, and lasting stability in West Africa’s Sahel region, noting the serious security challenges facing the area and its undergoing significant transformation.

He also underlined the strategic importance of security in the region.

Indicating the need to support the efforts of countries in the region to ensure stability and security, Fidan noted: “One of the priority areas of Trkiye’s activities is to expand the capacities of regional countries, including combating terrorism.”

“The nature of the current challenges necessitates that our efforts be conducted in a multidimensional manner, spreading from security to economic and social development.”

For his part, Mauritanian Foreign Minister Merzoug said natural resources, natural gas, renewable energy, and green hydrogen in Trkiye are crucial
for Mauritania.

Merzoug stressed that they discussed various areas of relations, including defense, security, transportation, health, education, agriculture, and livestock, and highlighted “the excellent relations” between Mauritania’s President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

He also mentioned the significance of Trkiye’s advanced capabilities in many fields for Mauritania, and expressed concern over the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, calling for an end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the establishment of permanent peace.

Merzoug concluded by addressing the issue of Islamophobia, thanking Trkiye for its efforts in this regard.

Source: Anadolu Agency

ISTANBUL: Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh said on Saturday that tens of thousands of people in Gaza have been killed by Israel using US weapons, adding that Washington’s veto against the establishment of a Palestinian state in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) effectively provides political protection to Tel Aviv’s actions.

‘The US position is deceptive, even though it says it does not want civilians to be harmed, this is an attempt at manipulation. All the civilians killed in Gaza, thousands, tens of thousands of martyrs, were killed with US weapons, with US rockets, under US political protection. What does the US veto of the cease-fire resolution at the UNSC mean? It means that the US is giving full protection and umbrella to the continuation of the massacres and murders in Gaza,’ Haniyeh said in an exclusive interview with Anadolu.

He added that the US veto of the full membership of the state of Palestine at the UN shows that Washington has embraced the Israeli position, and opposes
the rights of the Palestinian people.

Rafah operation could lead to massacre

Haniyeh warned against a possible military operation by the Israeli army in Rafah, saying that this could lead to a massacre of the Palestinian people.

‘I call on all brotherly countries, our brothers in Egypt, our brothers in Trkiye, our brothers in Qatar as mediators, and the European countries to take action to restrain (Israeli) aggression and prevent the operation in Rafah, as well as ensure the complete withdrawal (of the Israeli army) from the Gaza Strip and end to attacks on Gaza.’

Speaking about the resistance of the Palestinian people, Haniyeh said: ‘If the Zionist enemy enters Rafah, Palestinian people will not raise the white flag. The resistance fighters in Rafah are ready to defend themselves and resist attacks.’

Negotiations with Israel

‘We agreed to negotiations, but on the condition that attacks on the Palestinian people be stopped,’ Haniyeh said, explaining the reason why they agreed to negotiate with Israel.

‘
But the condition is that these negotiations must result in a ‘permanent cease-fire, a complete withdrawal of troops and the return of the displaced people and a prisoner exchange agreement.’

Emphasizing that Israel has not accepted a cease-fire in Gaza despite all the negotiations held so far with dozens of proposals submitted through mediators, Haniyeh said: “All it (Israel) wants is to take back the prisoners and then restart the war in Gaza, and this is not possible. The Israeli army must completely withdraw from Gaza. Israel also does not want the displaced people to return to northern Gaza. It accepts a limited and gradual return. It is unacceptable.’

He emphasized that Israel proposes a small number of people for prisoner exchange, though it has arrested nearly 14,000 Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza since Oct. 7.

‘It is the US, which does not exert any pressure (on Israel), and, that is preventing an agreement from being reached. As soon as Israel accepts these demands, we will be ready to
reach the agreement,” he added.

Governance of Gaza after war

Declaring that Gaza will be governed by Palestinians, Haniyeh said: ‘Hamas is not insisting on being the sole authority governing Gaza, but we are part of the Palestinian people and can establish a national unity government on a partnership basis and agree on the administration of Gaza.’

Haniyeh said that some alternatives regarding the administration of Gaza have been proposed, but success in these alternatives is not possible.

“Gaza is governed by Palestinians. These are national issues. We will not allow the situation of Palestine in Gaza, the West Bank, or both to be regulated by occupiers or anyone else,’ he stated.

“We made a two-stage call for the regulation of Palestinian domestic politics. The first stage consists of the reorganization of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to include all Palestinian groups. The second stage involves the establishment of a national government that will undertake the reconstruction of Gaza and u
nify the institutions in the West Bank and Gaza under one roof, and ensure the holding of presidential, legislative, and national council elections,’ he said.

Haniyeh underlined that Gaza is a national part of Palestine, indicating that they expect the national consensus government covering Gaza and the West Bank to govern Gaza after the war.

Erdogan’s support for Palestinian cause

Haniyeh noted that the visit to Trkiye took place in the context of the historical and distinguished relations between Trkiye and Palestine, stating that they held an important meeting lasting about 2 hours with the participation of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

During the meeting, he said that they made a comprehensive statement regarding Israel’s attacks on Gaza and what the Palestinian people have been experiencing for the past seven months.

He stated that they conveyed their concerns and sentiments to Erdogan on genocide against the Palestinian people, the ongoing negotiations for a cease
-fire, and Hamas and resistance groups’ demands for “a permanent cease-fire in Gaza, the complete withdrawal of Israel from the Gaza Strip, the return of displaced persons to their homes, reconstruction, lifting of the blockade, and reaching a prisoner exchange agreement.”

The Hamas leader praised Erdogan’s support for the Palestinian cause.

‘President Erdogan’s statement during the Justice and Development Party’s (AK Party) group meeting where he described Hamas as the national liberation movement and likened it to the Kuva-i Milliye (National Forces) is undoubtedly a source of pride for us and the Palestinian people,’ Haniyeh said.

Erdogan had said in the party’s group meeting: ‘Hamas is what Kuva-i Milliye (National Forces active during the Turkish War of Independence between 1918 – 1921) was in Trkiye during the National Struggle. We definitely know that saying this will come with a price.’

Haniyeh said: ‘Hamas is a movement that resists to liberate our lands, sacred values, and people from historical
occupation.’

Highlighting Trkiye’s historical ties to the Palestinian cause due to its regional and Islamic position, Haniyeh said Erdogan’s remarks reflect the conscience of the Turkish people, who consider the Palestinian cause as their own, empathize with Gaza from a humanitarian perspective and stand against oppression.

He underlined the need to unite efforts to stop the attacks of the Zionists, who remain standing with US support.

Haniyeh also praised the Turkish people’s intellectual, historical and political stance on the Palestinian cause.

‘We still remember President Erdogan lifting the map of Palestine during his speech at the UN and explaining how Palestine was gradually occupied, in response to Shimon Peres,’ he said. “We closely monitor Trkiye’s position in the region, its regional and international policies, and its stance on the Palestinian cause and Gaza with great importance.”

“We still remember how the Turkish people sacrificed martyrs on the Mavi Marmara for the lifting of the blockade
in Gaza,” Haniyeh said, adding that Trkiye maintains a consistent stance on the Palestinian cause and the Gaza blockade.

“During our meeting with Erdogan, we discussed the decisions taken regarding commercial restrictions on Israel and their effects on commercial activity,” he said.

“This is an important step against the Zionist enemies who shed the blood of women, children, and elderly Palestinians in attacks on Gaza, threaten Rafah with land attacks, and disrespect Muslim holy sites, especially Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem,” he added.

Israel’s uncompromising attitude

Haniyeh noted that while Hamas showed flexibility in negotiations, Israel took an uncompromising stance, attributing the failure and interruption of negotiations to this uncompromising attitude.

He also stated that they were informed during the meeting about Ankara’s political and diplomatic efforts at the regional and international levels to stop the attacks on Gaza, the aid sent to Gaza through the Rafah Border Crossing, and Trkiye’s deci
sions regarding trade with Israel in recent times.

The Hamas chief also said that they discussed the danger awaiting al-Aqsa Mosque due to the approaching Passover in Israel, and evaluated the developments in the West Bank, Jerusalem, and Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Crimes committed by Israel in Gaza

Haniyeh said that Israel, which first heavily bombed Gaza from the air and then entered by land, adopted a strategy based on killing, and destroying hospitals, schools, infrastructure, bakeries, pharmacies, and factories as well as imposing a military and humanitarian blockade.

“For over 5 months, nothing entered Gaza. Hunger was used as a weapon to break the people’s will and to pressure them to migrate from north to south. It is a very difficult situation in terms of both the number of martyrs and wounded, as well as those trapped under the rubble. There are thousands of martyrs buried under the rubble. Every day, we discover new mass graves,’ he said.

‘Tortures, executions, crimes committed in prisons… Israel does
not even allow the UN and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to operate, they want to shut down UNRWA,” Haniyeh noted.

He highlighted that to reach an agreement, at least 500 trucks need to enter Gaza daily for the reconstruction of hospitals, bakeries, infrastructure, and shelters.

Haniyeh said that he discussed these issues also with Erdogan during their meeting.

Reflection of Gaza war on other fronts

“The ability of Palestinian resistance to cope with the field conditions and security developments is high. This resistance has proven to be the strong and unyielding will of our people,” Haniyeh underlined.

“The enemy will not be able to break this weapon, this flag, this will, the spirit of resistance, and this determination,” he said.

Underlining that this is also true for the Palestinian people in the West Bank, he said: “We constantly witness renewed resistance in different areas of the West Bank, and likewise, there are resistance fronts in Lebanon.”

“Th
e Zionist enemy wanted to focus on the Gaza Strip in the war. However, due to the integration between the resistance forces in Lebanon, which became part of this struggle, and resistance groups in Palestine, it failed to achieve this. Indeed, there is almost a similar war in southern Lebanon between the occupying state Israel and the Islamic resistance (Hezbollah) in Lebanon and Palestinian resistance groups,” according to Haniyeh.

Haniyeh noted that Yemen is also exerting serious pressure on ships heading to Israel through the Red Sea, saying: “This has clear effects on the Israeli economy and the economy of companies and ships doing business with it.”

Referring to the attacks between Iran and Israel, Haniyeh stated that the conflict spread to Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, and Syria, and then to Iran, and is gradually spreading in the region, all of which are related to Israel’s continued attacks and genocide in Gaza.

He underlined that once the attacks on Gaza cease, tranquility is expected to prevail in the reg
ion also.

Haniyeh held Israel responsible for the developments following the attack on the Iranian embassy in Syria.

“Everyone expected that Iran would not remain silent in the face of this attack, which directly affects its sovereignty. This situation may indicate that the occupying Israel may have understood or misunderstood Iran’s previously mentioned policy of ‘strategic patience.’

‘Everyone was expecting a response from Iran. However, it is up to Iran to decide what the response will be as well as its volume, dimension, and scope,” Haniyeh explained.

‘Netanyahu does not want to end war in Gaza’

Regarding the Iran-Israel tension, Haniyeh said: “All of this indicates two things. Netanyahu does not want to end the war in Gaza; on the contrary, he wants to expand its framework for a regional war. Similarly, they want Americans to be part of the military front against Iran, and a part of the military wing that serves Israel.”

“The Zionist enemy (Israel) is responsible for this tension and regional escal
ation, denying the rights of our people, continuing to attack our people, our sanctities, especially Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa, and continuing the genocidal war in Gaza,” he added.

‘Zionists’ ambitions over Al-Aqsa’

Haniyeh underlined that Zionists and radical Jews have had ambitions over Al-Aqsa, saying: “We witnessed the burning of Al-Aqsa in 1969. Then came the attacks, massacres, raids, and efforts to change the status of Al-Aqsa, followed by efforts to divide Al-Aqsa temporally and spatially, and plans to offer sacrifices at Al-Aqsa.”

He said that the Israeli government, under the leadership of Benjamin Netanyahu, prioritizes changing the historical, cultural, and intellectual Islamic landmarks in Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa.

“In recent days, we hear calls from Israeli ministers and religious authorities to offer sacrifices at Al-Aqsa during the Jewish holiday. They have set rewards for those who will sacrifice at Al-Aqsa. This is disrespect to the sanctity of Al-Aqsa,” he said.

The Hamas leader called on all
Palestinians and the Islamic Ummah to take action to protect Al-Aqsa, the first Qibla of Muslims.

Touching on the Al-Aqsa Flood Operation launched by the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades -the military wing of Hamas- against Israeli violations at Al-Aqsa, Haniyeh said: “The operation was launched for Al-Aqsa, Jerusalem, and especially for the sanctities of the Ummah.’

‘The Ummah should not allow these efforts to go in vain. These are the inheritances left to Muslims from their prophets. Jews have no right whatsoever over Al-Aqsa,’ he said.

‘Israel should not go unpunished this time’

Speaking about South Africa’s lawsuit against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Haniyeh said: “I want to send greetings to South Africa, which filed a lawsuit against Israel and brought the occupying state and its occupier leaders to the ICJ for the first time since the Nakba.’

‘We see this as a very important step. The ICJ should continue its steps to stop the massacre in Gaza, ensure the entry of necessary hum
anitarian aid into Gaza, and bring Israeli officials to justice as war criminals, Holocaust criminals, and perpetrators of massacres against the Palestinian people,” he noted.

“Israel has been committing massacres for years, and these massacres go unpunished. This time, Israel should not go unpunished for these brutal massacres, crimes, and assassinations,” he added.

Media blackout

Assessing the media’s stance on Gaza, Haniyeh stated that there is good attention and support for what is happening in Gaza in Turkish, Arab, and global media.

He stressed that Israel is imposing a significant media blackout and barring foreign press members from entering the region to prevent its crimes and atrocities committed in Gaza from being brought to the attention of the world.

The Hamas leader called on the Turkish media and other media outlets to continue exposing Israel’s crimes, highlighting the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza, and breaking Israel’s media blackout.

Following his meeting with President Erdogan in Ista
nbul, Haniyeh spoke exclusively to Anadolu, stating that this is the first time he has spoken to an international press organization since Oct. 7.

Killing of Haniyeh’s children

Haniyeh also mentioned the attack in which his sons and grandchildren lost their lives, stating that it reflected three points: “Firstly, the enemy’s failure to achieve military targets for seven months, except for killing civilians, thousands of children, women, and the elderly. Therefore, the massacre carried out during the (Eid) holiday in which three of my sons and five of my grandchildren were killed is also included in this context and highlights the failure of the enemy.

‘The second aspect is the misconception that such a massacre reaching my home, my children, and grandchildren will exert pressure on the leader and the leadership of the movement to make concessions in the ongoing negotiations, which is misleading. Thirdly, my sons are part of the Palestinian people, and their situation is the same as that of the Palestinian
people. From the very beginning, I said that the blood of my sons is not more valuable than the children of the Palestinian people in Gaza, the West Bank, or anywhere else,’ he said.

Haniyeh further added that all martyrs in Gaza, the West Bank, or abroad are his children.

“Therefore, we are equal in rights, duties, and sacrifices. We accept these with steadfastness, determination, and unwavering will. Regardless of the cost and the sacrifices required, we will continue on this path,’ he said.

Haniyeh expressed his gratitude to the Turkish people for holding funeral prayers in absentia in more than 30 cities for his killed children and grandchildren.

He stated that this situation in other countries like Pakistan is evidence of the unity of the Ummah.

Source: Anadolu Agency