Turkey FM Meets Hamas Chief Meshaal in Doha for Gaza Talks

Turkey's foreign minister on Friday met Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal in the Qatari capital Doha to help efforts to broker a ceasefire with Israel, a government official said.

Ahmet Davutoglu met Meshaal in Doha for "negotiations aimed at a fair ceasefire," the official told Agence France-Presse on condition of anonymity. "The talks are proceeding in a positive direction."

The minister's unscheduled meeting comes after telephone talks with his counterparts from the United States and Qatar on Thursday night. 

Turkey, a staunch critic of the Israeli assaults in Gaza, is pressing for involvement of Hamas in any negotiations for a ceasefire.

In Doha, Davutoglu also met with his counterpart from Qatar. 

"We have been working with Qatar on a text drafted by Hamas for a ceasefire," the official said. 

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who presents himself as a rare global Muslim leader who stands up for Palestinian rights, has accused Israel of carrying out a "genocide" in Gaza.

His rhetoric sparked condemnation from Israel and severe criticism from Turkey's NATO ally the United States.