Erdogan says he does not believe Hamas will leave Qatar

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has said he does not believe the Palestinian militant group Hamas will leave Qatar, where it is based, adding he had seen no such signs that Doha wished the group to leave, either.

Erdogan, who was returning from a visit to Iraq, was asked by reporters on board the flight about media reports suggesting Hamas may leave its base in Qatar or be asked to leave by Doha.

Erdogan said he had received no signs of the Qatari leadership wanting the group to leave.

Turkey, which has previously hosted senior members of Hamas, has denounced Israel for its campaign in Gaza and called for a ceasefire. Israel's military assault has come in response to Hamas' October 7 deadly attacks in Israel.

Erdogan, who has called Hamas a "liberation movement," met Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Istanbul over the weekend.

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