Erdogan: more than 1,000 Hamas members being treated in Turkish hospitals

Erdogan: more than 1,000 Hamas members being treated in Turkish hospitals

Erdogan defends Hamas, says they are resistance fighters.

By REUTERS MAY 13, 2024 18:27 Updated: MAY 13, 2024 21:34 

 Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan delivers a speech during a protest against the recent killings of Palestinian protesters on the Gaza-Israel border and the U.S. embassy move to Jerusalem, in Istanbul, Turkey May 18, 2018. (photo credit: MURAD SEZER/REUTERS)

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that more than 1,000 members of the militant Palestinian group Hamas were being treated in hospitals across Turkey as he reiterated his stance that it was a “resistance movement.”

A Turkish official later said Erdogan had “misspoke” and meant that Gazans more generally were being treated in Turkey.

“If you call Hamas a ‘terrorist organization,’ this would sadden us,” Erdogan said at a joint press conference with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Ankara after Mitsotakis had referred to Hamas as such.

Hamas are “resistance fighters”

“We don’t deem Hamas a terrorist organization… More than 1,000 members of Hamas are under treatment in hospitals across our country,” Erdogan said.

A Turkish official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, later said that Erdogan had meant to refer to Palestinians from Hamas-run Gaza in general, rather than Hamas members.
 Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan welcomes Hamas senior official Khaled Meshaal, as Ismail Haniyeh, leader of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, looks on during a meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, April 20, 2024. (credit: TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL PRESS OFFICE/VIA REUTERS)Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan welcomes Hamas senior official Khaled Meshaal, as Ismail Haniyeh, leader of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, looks on during a meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, April 20, 2024. (credit: TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL PRESS OFFICE/VIA REUTERS)
“President Erdogan misspoke, he meant 1,000 Gazans are under treatment, not Hamas members,” a Turkish official said.

Earlier today, Erdogan accused Israel of genocide, saying “Netanyahu has reached a level that would make Hitler jealous with his genocidal methods.”

Content retrieved from: https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-801037.