Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has launched a process of negotiations with Hamas with a view to obtaining the release of hostages kidnapped by the Islamist group, an official source told AFP on Wednesday evening.
“They are negotiating to obtain the release of the hostages on orders [du président] Erdogan,” said this source, confirming information from the private Habertürk television channel.
Dozens of Israelis and foreigners are being held hostage by Hamas fighters in the Gaza Strip, after the surprise and deadly offensive by the Palestinian Islamist movement which began on Saturday.
Germany has called on Qatar, along with other Middle Eastern countries, to play an active role in attempts to free the hostages, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Wednesday.
The Turkish president, who offered to mediate to restore peace, is increasing his meetings with his counterparts in the Middle East.
Traditionally close to Qatar, Mr. Erdogan spoke on Wednesday evening with the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, and with the Algerian president, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, reported the official Anadolu agency.
On behalf of Turkey, “we are ready to do everything in our power,” including conducting “mediation” and “fair arbitration,” to quickly get the region out of this conflict, said the head of Turkey. the state cited by Anadolu.
Despite a rapprochement initiated several months ago with Israel, President Tru ruled on Wednesday that the latter “does not behave like a state” in the Gaza Strip, where the Israeli army is launching numerous raids and threatening a ground operation. .