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Hamas supporters rally in Gaza to back Turkey against foiled coup

Xinhua, July 17, 2016 Adjust font size:

Thousands of Hamas movement supporters rallied Saturday in the streets of the Gaza Strip against the failed coup and in support for Turkey and its president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Riding on vehicles and walking on foot, Hamas supporters took to the main streets allover the Gaza Strip and waved flags of Turkey and Hamas green flags.

They chanted slogans in support for the Turkish people's resistance to the coup and in support for Turkish President Erdogan.

Ismail Radwan, a senior Hamas official told a rally held in Gaza city on Saturday evening "here we all are taking to the streets, children, young men, men and women to reject the coup and to declare from Gaza that we are standing to the side of Turkey, its president, its government and its people."

Hamas, which belongs to the worldwide Muslim Brotherhood Movement, supports Turkey and Erdogan and consider Turkey as a major ally.

Strategically, Hamas believes that Turkey will be the country that would boost Hamas rule in Gaza and would help through its ties with Israel to end the Israeli blockade.

Turkey, which sent 11,000 tons of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, had signed a reconciliation agreement with Israel and vowed to ease the Israeli blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip, build up a power station, a water desalination station and a large hospital.

Earlier on Saturday, Hamas movement said in an official emailed statement that it condemns "the sinful attempt to attack the democratic choice of the brotherly Turkish people," adding that Hamas congratulates the Turkish people and its president Erdogan for restoring democracy, freedom and stability.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) congratulated Turkey on Saturday for defeating the leaders of the coup and for the victory of the Turkish democracy.

Reyad al-Malki, the PNA minister of foreign affairs said in an emailed press statement that he telephones his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu following instructions taken from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to congratulate Turkey for defeating the coup and bringing the country back to stability.

"The leadership of the Palestinians, their government and their president are backing Turkey and stand to the side of the Turkish people, their elected government and their president against those who led the failed coup that aims at striking stability in Turkey," said al-Malki. Endit