Hamas leader meets with Turkish president amid Israel negotiations
June 25, 2016 12:44 P.M. (Updated: June 25, 2016 10:14 P.M.)
http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=771997

BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan met with Hamas leader
Khaled Mashaal on Friday in the Turkish city of Istanbul, amid ongoing
negotiations between the Turkish president and Israeli leaders to normalize
ties between the two countries, according to various media sources.

Erdogan and Meshaal reportedly discussed strategies of easing humanitarian
issues for Palestinians, specifically in Gaza, and ways to reconcile
political differences between Hamas and Fatah -- two of Palestine’s largest
political factions.

However, no sources reported any discussions between Erdogan and Meshaal on
Turkey’s expected political normalizations with Israel during the meeting.

An agreement between Turkey and Israel is expected to be finalized on
Sunday, which would see the two countries resume their political
relationship following an Israeli attack six years ago on the Turkish ship
Mavi Marmara -- the first Freedom Flotilla -- that was attempting to deliver
much-needed humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip.

Part of Israel’s precondition to normalize ties with Turkey is for the
president to oust Hamas from the country and shut down an alleged command
unit used by Hamas in Istanbul, Israeli media reported.

However, the request was reportedly refused by Erdogan, while he reiterated
the government's longstanding denial of the existence of a Hamas command
unit in operation in the country.

According to Israeli media, under the ongoing negotiations, Turkey has
demanded that Israel lift the near decades-long siege on Gaza. However,
Israel has continuously refused the stipulation.

It is expected, instead, that Israel could allow Turkey to transfer aid to
Gaza via the Ashdod port in southern Israel, while permitting authorities to
build a hospital in the besieged enclave and construct a power and
desalinization plant.

Turkey has also reportedly demanded an apology from the Israeli government
for the attack on the Freedom Flotilla, and requested compensation for the
incident.

The Gaza strip has suffered an Israeli military blockade since 2007 when
Hamas was elected to rule over Gaza.

Residents of Gaza suffer from high unemployment and poverty rates, as well
as the consequences of three devastating wars with Israel since 2008.

The UN has warned that unless current trends are altered, Gaza could become
uninhabitable for residents in just five years. "The social, health and
security-related ramifications of the high population density and
overcrowding are among the factors that may render Gaza unlivable by 2020,"
the UN's development agency said last year.