We stand by Turkey against Israeli provocations: Hamas

ISTANBUL (AA) – Palestinian group Hamas on Tuesday expressed solidarity with the Turkish people and leadership in the face of “Israeli provocations&quot;.</p> <p>“We stand by Turkey’s leadership and its people against the Israeli provocations,” Hamas’ spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told Anadolu Agency on Tuesday.</p> <p>Zuhri’s remarks came following recent hostile remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his son Yair.</p> <p>“The attempts to turn the facts will not hide the truth. Israel is a state of occupation […] and it is now the worst form of terrorism in the world,” he added.</p> <p>Abu Zuhri hailed the supportive stance of Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the Palestinian people and the Muslim Ummah [in reference to the Muslims worldwide].</p> <p>“We express our appreciation to President Erdogan for his honest and supportive stance to the causes of the Ummah and Palestine, “he said.</p> <p>On Monday, addressing Turkish people on the occasion of the 104th anniversary of the Battle of Canakkale, Erdogan commented on Yair Netanyahu’s remarks against Turkey, saying: “We've been here for a thousand year and we will be here until the Day of Judgment. You can't make Istanbul into Constantinople.”