Turkey stands firmly with Palestinians, Qatar: Erdogan
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged full support for Palestinians and Qatar after "Israel's" aggression on Doha.
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025. (Vladimir Smirnov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared on Tuesday that Turkey stands with the Palestinians and Qatar "with all its strength," describing Qatar as a "friend, ally, and strategic partner."
Erdogan said the Israeli attack on Hamas's negotiating team in Doha "shows that Benjamin Netanyahu's government aims to deepen the conflict." He stressed that such aggression not only threatens Palestinian representatives but also undermines regional stability at a time when negotiations for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange are still on the table.
The Turkish presidency confirmed that Erdogan reassured Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani of Ankara's support for Doha "by all means." In a separate statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned the Israeli assault on the Qatari capital, pledging solidarity with Qatar "in the face of the cowardly attack targeting its sovereignty and security."
Hamas delegation survives
Earlier in the day, Hamas confirmed that the Israeli assassination attempt on its negotiating delegation in Doha had failed. A senior source told Al Mayadeen that the delegation survived the strike, which "Israel" carried out in coordination with its internal security agency, Shin Bet, under the codename "Operation Summit of Fire."
The airstrikes hit residential areas in Doha, according to Qatari officials, who denounced the assault as a direct violation of the Gulf state's sovereignty. Reuters correspondents on the ground reported explosions in the Katara district and rising plumes of smoke.
Martyrs named by Hamas
Despite the survival of the core delegation, Hamas announced the martyrdom of several figures in the attack. These included:
- Jihad Labad (Abu Bilal), director of senior leader Khalil al-Hayya's office
- Hummam al-Hayya (Abu Yahya), son of Khalil al-Hayya
- Abdullah Abdul Wahed (Abu Khalil)
- Moamen Hassouna (Abu Omar)
- Ahmad al-Mamlouk (Abu Malek)
The movement also mourned Badr Saad Mohammed al-Humaidi, a member of Qatar's internal security forces who was killed in the assault.
Read more: Israeli media: US coordinated with 'Israel' in Doha Hamas attack