UPDATE - Turkish President Erdogan meets with Palestinian counterpart Abbas, Hamas political chief

UPDATES WITH STATEMENT FROM COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTORATE; ADDS BACKGROUND

By Muhammed Enes Calli

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas group’s political chief.

The meeting took place in the presidential complex in the capital Ankara and was closed to the press.

On Tuesday, Erdogan and Abbas held one-on-one talks at the presidential complex in the capital Ankara to discuss bilateral relations, the Palestine-Israel issue, and other regional and international developments.

During the meeting on Wednesday, Erdogan extended his condolences for Palestinians killed in attacks by Israeli security forces and settlers, wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.

"Pointing out the importance of the unity and solidarity of the Palestinian people, President Erdogan stated that those who seek to undermine the peace process benefit from Palestinian division," tweeted Türkiye's Communications Directorate after the meeting.

Erdogan underlined that Türkiye did not accept the ongoing Israeli blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip, adding that Ankara was closely monitoring developments in occupied East Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Ankara strongly supports a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, including the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.