Istanbul, 21 April 2024 (Anadolu News)

Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh said on Saturday that tens of thousands of people in Gaza have been killed by Israel using US weapons, adding that Washington's veto against the establishment of a Palestinian state in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) effectively provides political protection to Tel Aviv's actions.

“The US position is deceptive, even though it says it does not want civilians to be harmed, this is an attempt at manipulation. All the civilians killed in Gaza, thousands, tens of thousands of martyrs, were killed with US weapons, with US rockets, under US political protection. What does the US veto of the cease-fire resolution at the UNSC mean? It means that the US is giving full protection and umbrella to the continuation of the massacres and murders in Gaza,” Haniyeh said in an exclusive interview with Anadolu.

Meeting with the head of Hamas, the Turkish president on Saturday stressed the need to prevent recent developments in Israel’s tension with Iran from benefiting Tel Aviv and to instead keep the focus on the plight of Palestinians in Gaza.

Meeting in Istanbul, Erdogan and Hamas’ Ismail Haniyeh discussed Israel's months-long continuing offensive on Palestinian territories, especially the Gaza Strip, the directorate added.

Erdogan said Israel will eventually and inevitably pay the price for its oppression of Palestinians, adding that Türkiye will continue to expose Israel’s massacres in Gaza on all platforms.

Erdogan added that all Türkiye’s efforts are dedicated to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, calling this the key to lasting peace in the region.

“He noted that over 45,000 tons of humanitarian aid have been sent to the region so far (since last October), and a series of sanctions have been implemented against Israel, including restrictions on trade,” it added.

Unity, solidarity stressed

Erdogan said Ankara continues its diplomatic efforts to draw the attention of the international community to the oppression faced by Palestinians.

He underlined the urgent need for an immediate and lasting cease-fire to end the violence, highlighting it at every opportunity.

During the meeting, Erdogan also extended his condolences to Haniyeh for the loss of his children and grandchildren in an Israeli attack in Gaza 10 days ago, during the recent Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr.

At the meeting, Erdogan was accompanied by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, National Intelligence Organization head Ibrahim Kalin, Communications Director Fahrettin Altun, and his top advisors Akif Cagatay Kilic and Safer Turan.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​