Health Issues force Palestinian president to postpone visit to Türkiye Amid criticism from Erdogan

The anticipated visit of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to Türkiye has been postponed due to health concerns.

Ömer Çelik, the official representative of Türkiye's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) said that Abbas had been specially invited by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to address the Turkish parliament, Caliber.Az reports via Turkish media.

"Our president said Abbas should be invited to parliament and gave instructions to that effect. Mutual consultations were held through the parliament. Abbas informed that he has health problems and will visit Türkiye at another time," Çelik told TRT Haber TV channel.

This development comes in the wake of recent criticisms from President Erdogan towards Abbas. Erdogan expressed his disappointment with Abbas for not accepting Türkiye's offer to address the parliament. This invitation coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to the US Congress on July 24.

Erdogan had urged Abbas to seize the opportunity to speak, implying that it would balance the narrative presented by Netanyahu in the US. The Turkish president's public call for an apology from Abbas highlights the tension between the two leaders over this issue.