Erdogan’s visit stalled by Egypt crisis, says Hamas

An adviser to Ismail Haniyeh, Prime Minister of the Hamas government in Gaza, said on Sunday that the visit of the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had been delayed due to ?current events in Egypt.? The Turkish premier announced in the middle of April his intention to visit Gaza ?by the end of May, according to the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet. In a statement, Dr ? Issam ad-Da'alees said: “The protests and demonstrations witnessed by Turkey, and the Arab region, especially Egypt, have cast their shadows over Gaza, which prevented the visit.”? The Hamas official said Erdogan’s trip would send the message that the siege ?on Gaza must end, adding that the visit was not cancelled, but ?simply postponed until an unknown date.? Tensions in Egypt between supporters and opponents of ousted Egyptian President ?Mohammed Morsi have had negative repercussions in Gaza, especially given the tightening of control over the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Strip by Egyptian security forces.