During a joint press conference in Tirana, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama revealed differing positions on the ongoing Gaza crisis. Erdoğan criticized Israeli government actions as a global threat, while Rama emphasized that Hamas is a source of terrorism that must be eliminated for peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

What was said: Erdoğan condemned Israeli actions in Gaza, calling them a humanitarian crisis that threatens global order. He stated, “The atrocities in Gaza and Lebanon go beyond regional concerns and have become a global threat. The genocide in Gaza is a shared disgrace of humanity, and the international community must ensure a permanent ceasefire and provide humanitarian aid while pressuring Israel.”

Rama acknowledged their shared views on other global issues, including the Ukraine conflict and Palestinian rights, but expressed a clear difference regarding Hamas. “For us, terrorism in any form, including Hamas, is unacceptable. While we support a ceasefire and the immediate release of hostages, Hamas has no place in the peaceful future of two sovereign states—Israel and Palestine,” Rama stated, reiterating his call for peace through the elimination of terrorism.

Why is it important: The tension is underscored by the fact that President Herzog of Israel was the last foreign leader hosted by Rama before Erdoğan’s visit. Rama’s stance is clear: he has relationship with Israeli leaders like Netanyahu and Herzog while maintaining close diplomatic and personal ties with Erdoğan. However, when it comes to the Gaza crisis, Rama’s consistent position is pro-peace but firmly against Hamas, a point he also emphasized during his appearance at the UN General Assembly.

Context: In addition to the Gaza discussion, Erdoğan reiterated his call for Albania to cooperate in the fight against the FETO organization, led by his rival Fethullah Gülen, which Turkey classifies as a terrorist group.