Germany Before Scholz visit: Turkey expresses condolences for death of Hamas leader

Turkey has expressed its condolences to Hamas over the killing of the former leader of the Islamist terrorist organization, Jihia al-Sinwar. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan expressed his condolences at a meeting with representatives of the so-called Shura Council and the Hamas politburo, according to a letter from the ministry. Fidan promised to "mobilize all political means against the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza". Sinwar is considered the mastermind behind the massacre carried out in Israel on October 7, 2023. He was recently killed by the Israeli military in the Gaza Strip.

The meeting took place a few hours before German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was due to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul at midday. Scholz had previously said that Sinwar's death would "hopefully now open up the concrete prospect of a ceasefire in Gaza, of an agreement to release the Hamas hostages".

Turkey maintains good relations with Hamas. Erdogan calls it a "liberation organization" and Israel a "terrorist state". He criticizes Germany and other Western countries for their support for Israel.