Italian Deputy Prime Minister commented on Erdogan’s statement about Hamas

Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s latest statements about Israel and Hamas “dangerous, disgusting and not helpful in de-escalation.” About it reports Reuters.

Salvini said he would invite his colleague, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, to send a formal protest to Turkey and summon the country’s ambassador.

In a speech to the Turkish Grand National Assembly on October 25, Erdogan said that Turkey does not consider the Palestinian Hamas movement to be a terrorist organization. He called Hamas members “a group of mujahideen (fighters for a just, holy cause) defending their lands.”

Erdogan: Turkey does not consider Hamas a terrorist organization

Erdogan also said that Turkey “has no problems with Israel,” but Ankara is not satisfied with the country’s policy towards the Palestinians. He said that all upcoming visits of Turkish officials to Israel, including his visit, have been cancelled.

Turkey condemned the deaths of Israeli civilians in the Hamas attack on October 7, but also called on Israel to respond with restraint.