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Palestinian Authority president Abbas to meet Erdogan


In this pool photograph distributed by Russian state-owned Sputnik agency Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) meets Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas in Novo-Ogaryovo, outside Moscow on Aug. 13, 2024. (Credit: AFP)

Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas is set to meet with Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday in Ankara, a day after a visit to Moscow. 

The visit comes at a tense time during the 10-month Israel-Hamas war, with faltering efforts for a ceasefire and Israel braced for threatened attacks from Iran and its proxies following killings of senior Hamas officials in Iran and Lebanon.

Abbas is due to meet with Erdogan at 3 p.m. GMT at the presidential palace, according to the Turkish leader's itinerary. 

Erdogan has been a fierce critic of Israel's conduct in the war sparked by Hamas's Oct. 7 attacks, dubbing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "the butcher of Gaza".

He also criticized the Western world for its failure to pressure Israel to stop the war. 

While Hamas is viewed by the United States, the European Union and Israel as a terrorist organisation, Erdogan has described it as "a liberation movement".

In July, Erdogan chastised Abbas for not responding to his invitation to visit Turkey.

Abbas added a trip to Ankara after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday.

He will address the Turkish parliament in a special session dedicated to the Palestinian issue on Thursday. 

Abbas, who heads the Fatah Palestinian movement, a rival to Hamas, had already visited Turkey at Erdogan's invitation in early March.


Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas is set to meet with Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday in Ankara, a day after a visit to Moscow. 

The visit comes at a tense time during the 10-month Israel-Hamas war, with faltering efforts for a ceasefire and Israel braced for threatened attacks from Iran and its proxies following killings of senior Hamas officials in Iran and Lebanon.

Abbas is due to meet with Erdogan at 3 p.m. GMT at the presidential palace, according to the Turkish leader's itinerary. 

Erdogan has been a fierce critic of Israel's conduct in the war sparked by Hamas's Oct. 7 attacks, dubbing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "the butcher of Gaza".

He also criticized the Western world...