A NATO member declared national mourning for Hamas leader, blocking the military alliance's cooperation with Israel.

On August 1, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan announced that the country will hold a national funeral on August 2 (local time) to commemorate the political leader of the Hamas movement Ismail Haniyeh, who died from an assassination in the Iranian capital Tehran.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan affirmed his continued support for the establishment of a Palestinian state. (source: DPA)

According to AFP news agency, posted on social network X, Mr. Erdogan stated: "A day of national mourning will be announced... in solidarity with the Palestinian cause and in solidarity with our Palestinian brothers."

Earlier, the Turkish President condemned the assassination of Mr. Haniyeh, saying it was a "despicable act aimed at undermining the Palestinian cause... demoralizing and intimidating Palestinians."

The leader affirmed that Turkey continues to support the establishment of a sovereign and independent Palestinian state.

The statement was made after the leader of the Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip, Ismail Haniyeh, died in an assassination attempt at his residence in the Iranian capital Tehran, early on July 31.

Previously, Reuters news agency quoted informed sources as saying that since October last year when the conflict in the Gaza Strip broke out, Turkey has blocked cooperation between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliance of which it is a member and Israel.

Türkiye believes that NATO should not cooperate with Israel as a partner until the conflict is over.

Following Israel's offensive in Gaza, Türkiye strongly criticized and suspended all bilateral trade with the Middle Eastern country, while condemning Western allies for supporting Israel.

Türkiye has vetoed all NATO operations against Israel, viewing Israel's war in Gaza as a violation of NATO's founding principles, sources said.

According to sources, Türkiye will maintain this blockade and will not allow Israel to continue or promote interaction with NATO until the conflict ends, as it believes that Israel's actions in Gaza violate international law and universal human rights.

Israel is a NATO partner and has fostered close ties with the military alliance and some of its members, especially the United States.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/mot-thanh-vien-nato-tuyen-bo-quoc-tang-tuong-nho-thu-linh-hamas-chan-hop-tac-cua-lien-minh-quan-su-voi-israel-281051.html