In Istanbul, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held hours-long talks with Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh on Saturday, seeking to address the ongoing conflict in Gaza. However, Erdogan's attempts to establish himself as a mediator in the region have thus far been unsuccessful.

During the meeting at the Dolmabahce palace, Erdogan emphasized the importance of Palestinian unity in the face of Israel's war in Gaza. "The strongest response to Israel and the path to victory lie in unity and integrity," Erdogan stated, as per a statement from the Turkish presidency. The talks, which reportedly lasted over two and a half hours, sought to address the escalating tensions in the region.

Erdogan's efforts to involve Turkey in mediation were met with criticism from Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz, who condemned the meeting, accusing Erdogan of having ties to the Muslim Brotherhood alliance. Hamas, the group represented by Haniyeh in the talks, was founded by members of the Muslim Brotherhood in 1987.

While Qatar has been involved as a mediator between Hamas and Israel, Erdogan has signaled his desire to play a larger role in the mediation efforts. This was evident when Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan visited Doha on Wednesday to reassess their role as a mediator.

Turkey has maintained close ties with Hamas since 2011 when they helped secure the agreement for the group to release Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Erdogan has personally maintained links with Haniyeh, who has been a frequent visitor to Turkey.

The meeting between Erdogan and Haniyeh comes amidst reports of Israel preparing an offensive against the Gazan city of Rafah and Iran's reported attack on an Israeli province. These recent events have clouded hopes of a peace breakthrough in the region.

However, experts suggest that Erdogan's outspoken criticism of Israel may limit his role in mediation efforts. In the past, Erdogan has likened Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's tactics to those of Adolf Hitler and has referred to Israel as a "terrorist state" due to their offensive against Hamas following the group's attacks on Israel in October 7.

As the conflict continues, the death toll continues to rise. According to AFP figures based on Israeli official reports, 1,170 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in southern Israel as a result of the Hamas attacks that sparked the Gaza war. Additionally, Hamas has taken approximately 250 hostages, with Israel estimating that 34 are presumed dead and 129 still remain in Gaza.

Turkey, one of Gaza's main humanitarian aid partners, has been sending significant amounts of supplies and medicine, with 45,000 tonnes of aid already delivered to the region. However, with tensions escalating, the need for further humanitarian aid in devastated Gaza, where the threat of famine looms, is evident.

While Erdogan's role as a mediator may be limited due to his controversial statements, his efforts to promote unity and address the conflict in Gaza demonstrate Turkey's continued engagement in the region.