Anti-Israeli sentiment

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Saturday received Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh in Istanbul as Middle East tensions run high.

The meeting at the Dolmabahce palace on the banks of the Bosphorus began shortly after 2:30 pm (1130 GMT) and lasted about two and a half hours.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' upcoming visit to Türkiye presents an opportunity to enhance ties between Ankara and Athens.

"This visit is an important stage in Türkiye-Greece relations," Erdogan told a group of journalists in Istanbul on April 19.

Turkey on Friday called on all sides to refrain from steps that could lead to a wider conflict in the Middle East, after Israel reportedly attacked Iran in a tit-for-tat retaliation for Iran's strike.

In line with the intensified efforts for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry held talks with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan during a visit to Türkiye on April 20.

In a move sparking controversy and diplomatic ripples, the United States wielded its veto power at the United Nations to thwart a resolution advocating for the recognition of a Palestinian state. The resolution, which recommended granting Palestine full membership in the organization, faced staunch opposition from the US, resulting in its ultimate rejection.

More than six months of Israel's military offensive in Gaza has turned the Palestinian territory into a "humanitarian hellscape", U.N. chief Antonio Guterres said Thursday, also warning that one wrong move could see the Middle East devolve into a wider war as United States sank a long-shot Palestinian bid for full United Nations membership, vetoing a Security Council vote.

Iran's top diplomat said Thursday his country has told the United States that it is not seeking escalation after an unprecedented attack on Israel.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh during his visit to Qatar on Wednesday. 

According to a Turkish diplomatic source, the meeting centered on providing humanitarian aid to Gaza, ceasefire negotiations and efforts to secure the release of hostages. 

Fidan was in Qatar to hold talks with his Qatari counterpart. 

Turkey will take steps to strengthen its medium-term economic program and the three main priorities are to increase public savings, prioritize investments and accelerate structural reforms, President Tayyip Erdogan said.

Thirteen individuals, including seven children, lost their lives, while more than 25 others sustained injuries in an airstrike targeting the Al-Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza on Tuesday, as reported by CNN, citing officials from Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital.