Media: Palestinian leader сancels Turkish dinner over assassination threat from Israel

During his visit to Türkiye, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas cancelled a dinner with members of the local parliament because of information received about an assassination threat from Israel.

Abbas made a speech before the Turkish Grand National Assembly (parliament) on August 15 and announced plans to travel to Gaza, Caliber.Az reports, citing an article from Turkish media.

According to the article, Abbas thanked Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus for the attention shown to him but said he could not have dinner with the MPs because he needed to get to Palestine before dark.

The politician wanted to reach Palestine before nightfall for fear of an assassination attempt by Israel, as was the case with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who visited Iran at the end of July.

The article says nothing is more understandable than Abbas' caution at a time when the elimination of politicians by Israel is widespread.

Mahmoud Abbas has long been a controversial figure in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. His leadership and policies have made him a target of criticism from various quarters, including within Israel.

His tenure has been marked by efforts to negotiate peace with Israel, but these efforts have often been met with limited success and ongoing conflict.

Abbas’s leadership has been marked by heightened security concerns. His efforts to maintain order in the West Bank and his engagements in peace talks with Israel have made him a controversial figure. These dynamics have occasionally led to threats against his life.

The assassination threat reported during Abbas’s visit to Türkiye aligns with ongoing tensions in the region. Abbas's recent public statements and actions, including his plans to travel to Gaza and his speech in Türkiye, might have further heightened his perceived vulnerability.