Over 1,000 Hamas members being treated in hospitals across Turkey : Erdogan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that more than 1,000 members of the militant Palestinian group Hamas were being treated in hospitals across Turkey, reiterating his stance that Hamas was a “resistance movement.”

Speaking at a press conference after talks with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Ankara, Erdogan also said he was saddened by the Greek view that deems Hamas a terrorist organization.

A Turkish official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, later said that Erdogan had meant to refer to Palestinians from Gaza in general, rather than Hamas members.

“President Erdogan misspoke, he meant 1,000 Gazans are under treatment, not Hamas members,” the Turkish official said.

Greece and Turkey cannot agree on all issues related to the war in Gaza but they can agree that violence must end and a long-term ceasefire is needed, Mitsotakis said.

“Let’s agree to disagree,” Mitsotakis said, responding to Erdogan.