Israel Erdogan meets Palestinian President Abbas in Ankara

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ankara about the Gaza war. Among other things, they discussed the steps that need to be taken for a lasting ceasefire and peace, the president's communications office announced on X late on Wednesday evening.

In the statement, Israel was also accused of a "massacre" in the Gaza Strip. Abbas plans to address the Turkish parliament in a special session today.

Abbas thanked Erdogan for his support of the Palestinian people and called for an immediate ceasefire and Israel's complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported. Abbas (88) is President of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Chairman of Fatah. He has hardly any support among the Palestinian population.

A decisive round of negotiations in efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza is expected in Qatar. The Islamist Hamas, which is responsible for the massacre in Israel on October 7, does not want to take part, but will be briefed on the points discussed afterwards.

Fatah and Hamas are the two largest Palestinian organizations and bitter rivals. Hamas won the last Palestinian parliamentary elections in 2006. The following year, it seized sole control of the Gaza Strip by force and expelled Fatah from the area. Since then, Abbas has de facto ruled only in the West Bank.