Qatar's emir visits Turkey amid push for de-escalation, Gaza talks
The Qatari emir's visit to Turkey comes as regional countries are ramping up efforts to prevent a broader conflict in the region after the Hamas political chief’s killing.
ANKARA — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met Thursday in Ankara to discuss the latest developments in Gaza and the regional escalation following Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh’s killing, the Turkish presidency said.
Erdogan told Sheikh Tamim that, along with Qatar, his country is focusing on result-oriented efforts to achieve a solution that will bring lasting peace to the region. Qatar and Egypt are mediating the cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas.
"Erdogan said that Turkey continues to work for a solution that will bring lasting peace to the region and that, along with Qatar, it intends to increase their efforts to achieve results," according to the official readout.
The state-run Qatar News Agency said the two leaders discussed avenues for enhancing cooperation between Turkey and Qatar, as well as the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories.
The Qatari emir’s visit to Turkey comes as regional countries are ramping up efforts to prevent a broader conflict in the region after Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh was killed in the Iranian capital, Tehran, in what appears to be an Israeli assassination last week. Iran vowed retaliation, fueling the concerns.
Doha-based Haniyeh was one of the negotiators in the Qatar-and-Egypt-mediated talks. Hamas announced earlier this week that he was replaced by Yahya Sinwar, the militant group’s chief in Gaza.
Erdogan told Sheikh Tamim that Haniyeh’s killing showed that Israel has no intention of achieving a cease-fire, and he blamed the Jewish state for the escalation in the region with its ongoing attacks on Palestinian territories and Lebanon, according to the Turkish presidency.
"Israel is trying to increase regional tension with its attacks against both Palestinian territories and Lebanon," Erdogan said, according to the readout. "The international community should take effective steps to stop the Israeli aggression," added Erdogan.
The two leaders also discussed bilateral cooperation in several areas, including the economic and defense fields.
Doha is one of the closest regional partners of Ankara, and Qatar is home to one of Turkey's few military bases overseas. The two countries also enjoy strong economic cooperation, with a bilateral trade volume reaching $3.1 billion last year, according to official Turkish data.
