Sabah Haniyeh, the sister of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, has been charged by Israel, three weeks after her initial arrest.
Haniyeh, a 57-year-old resident of Tel Sheva, has been in custody since April 1 when she was arrested during a police raid in the early morning hours. At the same time, her two children were also taken into custody but were later released later that day.
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The Israeli Justice Ministry has indicted her on charges of incitement and identification with a terrorist group. According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz and Al Jazeera, Israel and its allies, including the United States, consider the Palestinian militia to be a terror group.
Haniyeh allegedly sent messages to her brother and other contacts, expressing words of praise and encouragement following Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7.
Israel responded with further violence after hundreds of Palestinians were killed by Israelis in 2023, in the wake of a devastating attack.
Prosecutors have sought to keep Haniyeh in custody until she can stand trial for the offenses she is accused of.
Just hours after Ismail Haniyeh held lengthy talks with Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul on Saturday, news of the charges emerged. The Turkish president, in light of Israel’s war, had earlier emphasized the importance of Palestinian unity. It remains unclear whether the timing of the charges was intentional and meant to coincide with the meeting.
President Erdogan stressed the importance of ending the brutality and achieving an urgent and lasting ceasefire during the meeting. He emphasized that Turkey is actively engaged in diplomatic efforts to bring international attention to the atrocities suffered by the Palestinians. Erdogan’s office stated this after the meeting.
President Erdoฤan emphasized that the primary goal is to establish an independent State of Palestine, which is crucial for regional peace. He firmly stated that Israel will face consequences for the injustices it inflicts upon the Palestinians, and Tรผrkiye will persistently raise its voice against the atrocities in Gaza. The President’s words reflect a strong commitment to seeking justice and peace in the region.
Turkey and Israel, both strong allies of the United States, are members of NATO.
