Haniyeh’s assassination disrupts planned unity talks in Türkiye
President Erdogan met with Abbas and Haniyeh, Ankara, July 27, 2023 (AA Photo)
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Tehran by an Israeli missile strike, was scheduled to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during his upcoming visit to Türkiye. The meeting, facilitated by Turkish mediation, aimed to unify Palestinian factions in their struggle against Israeli occupation.
Efforts to unite Palestinian resistance groups were ongoing when the assassination occurred. Haniyeh was set to join Abbas in Ankara to strengthen coordination between Hamas and Fatah. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had extended an invitation to Abbas, who planned to address the Turkish parliament.
Diplomatic sources indicate that the meeting in Ankara would have been a significant step towards Palestinian unity. Haniyeh and Abbas’s photo op in Türkiye was expected to signal a unified front against Israeli actions. However, the assassination has now prevented this crucial dialogue.
The assassination comes shortly after a meeting in Beijing on July 22, where Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Fatah, resolved to coordinate their resistance efforts. The disrupted meeting in Türkiye underscores the challenges in achieving Palestinian political unity amidst ongoing conflict.
