Gaza Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh arrived in Turkish city Istanbul on Sunday morning, as part of his first international tour since Israel tightened the siege on the coastal strip.

Haniyeh will meet Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday evening to discuss regional developemnets and the reconciliation deal between the premier’s Hamas party and Fatah, officials said.

Erdogan’s government has sought to mediate between the parties and maintain good relations with both sides, as well its NATO allies. On Friday Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said every Palestinian was welcome in Turkey.

The delegation in Turkey also includes Gaza Minister of Economy Ala Rafati, government spokesman Taher al-Nunu and Haniyeh adviser Yousef Rizqa.

Haniyeh left Gaza last Sunday for the first time since Hamas seized power of the coastal enclave in 2007 and Israel tightened a land and sea blockade on the 1.7 million-strong population.

The premier met officials in Egypt and Sudan, and is set to make a number of other regional stops.

(Ma’an News)