Haniya

In an interview with state-run Anadolu news agency, Mr. Haniya also praised Turkey's role in the prisoner swap deal between Israel and Hamas two months ago, after meeting with some of the released Palestinian prisoners who were brought to Turkey.

Hamas PM Praises Mavi Marmara 'Martyrs' Ayla Albayrak 2012

Mr. Haniya praised "the martyrs of freedom"of Mavi Marmara after visiting the vessel, docked in Istanbul for a year now, saying that Palestinians were able to break free from the embargo over Gaza thanks to Mavi Marmara.

Hamas PM Praises Mavi Marmara 'Martyrs' Ayla Albayrak 2012

Ismail Haniya, prime minister of the Palestinian administration in the Gaza Strip, continued his tour of Turkey, where on Monday he visited the aid flotilla Mavi Marmara, a Turkish vessel that tried in 2010 to break the Gaza blockade.

Hamas PM Praises Mavi Marmara 'Martyrs' Ayla Albayrak 2012

While the representatives of Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the Quartette the US, EU, Russia and the UN were recently hosted in Amman, Jordan, in an effort to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, Turkey's Prime Minister Erdogan met in Ankara with Hamas' Prime Minister, Ismail Haniya, who openly remains committed to Israel's destruction and opposes any peace negotiations with Israel.

Alon Ben-Meir: Turkey: Reconciling Between Israel and Hamas Alon Ben-Meir 2012

Spokesmen for the prime minister and the foreign ministry didn't give details of the meetings, but Mr. Haniya thanked Mr. Erdogan and Turkey for "continuous support" for Palestinians, in an interview with Turkish news channel NTV on Monday.

Hamas PM Praises Mavi Marmara 'Martyrs' Ayla Albayrak 2012

"Arab Spring is turning to Islamic Spring," Mr. Haniya said in an interview with Anadolu.

Hamas PM Praises Mavi Marmara 'Martyrs' Ayla Albayrak 2012

"We are trying to prepare appropriate environment for elections," Mr. Haniya said.

Hamas PM Praises Mavi Marmara 'Martyrs' Ayla Albayrak 2012

Turkey supports Hamas reconciliation with rival Fatah, which rules the West Bank and is led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and in the interview with NTV, Mr. Haniya promised a united administration for Palestinians in elections to be held this year.

Hamas PM Praises Mavi Marmara 'Martyrs' Ayla Albayrak 2012

To get an idea of the large number of cars Hamas controls, the motorcade for Prime Minster Haniya is no less than 20 cars.

Hani Almadhoun: Ramadan In Gaza: Short on Cash, Not Chicken 2010

To get an idea of the large number of cars Hamas controls, the motorcade for Prime Minster Haniya is no less than 20 cars.

Hani Almadhoun: Ramadan In Gaza: Short on Cash, Not Chicken 2010