Hamas is not a terrorist organization: Turkish President Erdogan

Istanbul: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Hamas is not a terrorist organization but a libertarian group that is fighting for the protection of its homeland. 

During his address to the elected members of his party in parliament, the President stated that Israel had taken advantage of Turkey's good intentions and that is why he would no longer visit Israel.

The Turkish president called for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and urged world powers to pressure Israel to stop bombing Gaza.

In his speech, Erdogan added that the Rafah border gate should be kept open for humanitarian aid and that the exchange of prisoners between the two sides should be completed immediately.

He also expressed dismay at the UN's "inability" to stop the war between Israel and Hamas.

The Turkish President proposed holding an international Israel-Palestine peace conference and said that the Palestinian people should unite for a two-state solution, and Arab states should provide moral and financial support for it.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that non-regional countries should stop adding fuel to the fire in support of Israel, Muslim countries should take joint measures for lasting peace and ceasefire, and Turkey is ready to be a guarantor for the Palestinian side.