Erdogan defends Hamas, says they are resistance fighters.
A Turkish official later said Erdogan had “misspoke” and meant that Gazans more generally were being treated in Turkey.
“If you call Hamas a ‘terrorist organization,’ this would sadden us,” Erdogan said at a joint press conference with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Ankara after Mitsotakis had referred to Hamas as such.
Hamas are “resistance fighters”
“We don’t deem Hamas a terrorist organization… More than 1,000 members of Hamas are under treatment in hospitals across our country,” Erdogan said.
A Turkish official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, later said that Erdogan had meant to refer to Palestinians from Hamas-run Gaza in general, rather than Hamas members.
“President Erdogan misspoke, he meant 1,000 Gazans are under treatment, not Hamas members,” a Turkish official said.
Earlier today, Erdogan accused Israel of genocide, saying “Netanyahu has reached a level that would make Hitler jealous with his genocidal methods.”
