Turkey says US statement on Hamas leaders' visit 'crossed the line'

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In a statement released yesterday (August 25), the US Department of State "strongly objected to" President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's hosting of two leaders of Palestine's Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in İstanbul on August 22.

Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has responded to this condemnation in a press release yesterday, "fully rejecting" the US statement.

As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), the statement of the Foreign Ministry has said that "Hamas is a democratically elected actor in Gaza representing a significant reality in the region."

"Turkey fully rejects the US statement, which crossed the line," the Ministry statement has read further, adding that "designating Hamas representatives as terrorists would not contribute to regional peace or stability."

Accusing the US administration of openly supporting the People's Protection Units/ Kurdistan Workers Party (YPG/PKK) as well as the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), which is held responsible for staging the attempted coup on July 15, 2016, the Ministry has said that "the US has no right to comment on third countries' politics."

The statement has added that "after the US administration designated Hamas a terrorist group, it closed the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) mission in Washington, meaning American officials cut their ties with the Palestinian Authority, isolating itself from regional realities."

It has called on the US to use its regional influence and power to serve not the interests of Israel but to follow more balanced policies in a bid to bring a righteous and fair solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Ismail Haniyeh, the political head of Hamas, and a delegation paid a visit to Turkey over the weekend and met President and ruling AKP Chair Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul on Saturday.

What did the US say?

"Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by the US and European Union (EU) and both officials hosted by President Erdoğan are Specially Designated Global Terrorists," the US Department of State said yesterday in a written statement released on its website.

"President Erdogan's continued outreach to this terrorist organization only serves to isolate Turkey from the international community, harms the interests of the Palestinian people, and undercuts global efforts to prevent terrorist attacks launched from Gaza," the statement continued.

"We continue to raise our concerns about the Turkish government's relationship with Hamas at the highest levels. This is the second time President Erdoğan has welcomed Hamas leadership to Turkey this year with the first meeting occurring February 1." (PT/SD)