We stand by Turkey against Israeli provocations: Hamas

ISTANBUL (AA) - Palestinian group Hamas on Tuesday expressed solidarity with the Turkish people and leadership in the face of “Israeli provocations".

“We stand by Turkey’s leadership and its people against the Israeli provocations,” Hamas’ spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told Anadolu Agency on Tuesday.

Zuhri’s remarks came following recent hostile remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his son Yair.

“The attempts to turn the facts will not hide the truth. Israel is a state of occupation […] and it is now the worst form of terrorism in the world,” he added.

Abu Zuhri hailed the supportive stance of Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the Palestinian people and the Muslim Ummah [in reference to the Muslims worldwide].

“We express our appreciation to President Erdogan for his honest and supportive stance to the causes of the Ummah and Palestine, “he said.

On Monday, addressing Turkish people on the occasion of the 104th anniversary of the Battle of Canakkale, Erdogan commented on Yair Netanyahu’s remarks against Turkey, saying: “We've been here for a thousand year and we will be here until the Day of Judgment. You can't make Istanbul into Constantinople.”