Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Turkey to forge joint response to Israel-Hamas war

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Tuesday made his first official visit to Turkey in an effort to work toward a joint response to the Israel-Hamas war. Since October 7, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has emerged as a vocal critic among the Muslim nations against Israel’s onslaught on Gaza following Hamas’ surprise attack. Erdogan has branded Israel as a “terrorist state” and has called Hamas “a liberation group.” The leader has also called for the trial of Israeli politicians and military commanders in the International Criminal Court in the Hague. But past meetings between Muslim and Arab leaders – including talks this month in Riyadh – have failed to find common ground over what immediate economic and political steps to take. Analysts believe that Raisi will pressure Turkey to move past the rhetoric and cut its blossoming trade and energy relations with Israel. “Iran expects Turkey to end its direct and indirect trade with Israel,” Istanbul’s Centre for Iranian Studies director Hakki Uygur told AFP. “Turkey, on the other hand, has taken an attitude that cares about separating political and commercial issues,” he added. Raisi and Erdogan will focus on efforts to extend the military truce agreed upon by Hamas and Israel that has witnessed the release of dozens of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners since Friday. Israel-Hamas war update The four-day truce between Israel and Hamas has been extended by two days.

Israel said 11 Israelis had returned to the country from the Gaza Strip on Monday, bringing to 69 the total of Israeli and foreign hostages the Palestinian group has freed since Friday under the truce.

The White House and Qatari negotiators said on Monday the original four-day pause in fighting, due to expire at 0500 GMT on Tuesday, had been extended for two more days.

With inputs from agencies