Erdogan says Hamas not ‘terrorist’ but a liberation group waging a battle to protect its land

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that Palestinian group Hamas is not a terrorist organisation but a liberation group waging a battle to protect its land.

In a speech to his party's lawmakers in parliament, Erdogan said Israel had taken advantage of Turkey's good intentions and that he will not go to Israel as previously planned.

Erdogan urged an immediate ceasefire between Israeli and Palestinian forces and said Muslim countries must act together for lasting peace, calling on world powers to pressure Israel to halt attacks.

In a speech to his party's lawmakers in Erdogan said the Rafah border gate must be kept open for humanitarian aid and that prisoner exchanges should be concluded urgently.

Erdogan said he was cancelling plans to visit Israel because of its "inhumane" war against Hamas in Gaza.

"We had a project to go to Israel, but it was cancelled, we will not go," Erdogan told ruling party lawmakers in parliament, adding that he viewed Hamas as "liberators" fighting for their own land.

Erdogan said that he was saddened by the United Nations' "inability" to agree on a resolution regarding Israel's bombardment of Gaza and to call for a humanitarian ceasefire there.

Erdogan called for reform of the United Nations, saying the Security Council needed to be reformed to be more inclusive.

The Turkish leader did not say when he had intended to visit Israel, where Ankara had been eyeing joining a natural gas pipeline project promoted by the United States.

"Of course, we had good intentions, but (Netanyahu) abused them," Erdogan said.

"If he had continued with good intentions, our relations might have been different, but now, unfortunately, this will not happen either."

Ankara's relations with Israel froze over an Israeli raid on a Turkish ship carrying aid into Gaza, which killed 10 civilians in 2010.

Agencies