Palestinian president set to visit Türkiye Meeting with Erdoğan scheduled

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is set to visit Ankara on March 5, according to an announcement made by Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki at a diplomacy forum in Antalya.

During his address, al-Maliki revealed that Abbas would hold discussions with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, with the minister describing the visit as a “reflection of the excellent working relationship that exists between the two countries", Hürriyet Daily News reports.

"Such countries [European countries] have to take their initiative on their own, and they have to start by recognizing the state of Palestine," the Palestinian top diplomat said at the forum.

Furthermore, he reiterated the Palestinian Authority's position as the "sole legitimate authority that will operate and will continue operating in Gaza" amid escalating tensions in the region.

Abbas' visit will follow Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh's resignation from his government, which rules parts of the occupied West Bank.

His resignation comes as US pressure grows on Abbas to shake up the Palestinian Authority and begin work on a political structure that can govern a Palestinian state following the war.

Abbas accepted Shtayyeh’s resignation and asked him to stay on as caretaker until a permanent replacement is appointed.