Erdogan says families of Israeli captives requested Turkey's intervention

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that some of the families of Israeli captives held by Hamas have requested Ankara's intervention in the matter.

"They have requested us to intervene in the release of their relatives ... Since the Israeli families reached us through this method, they have given up hope in their own government," Erdogan told the media on Saturday.

He added that he asked Turkish intelligence to look into the issue.

Hours after Erdogan's remarks, the Washington Post reported that a deal between Israel and Hamas over the release of dozens of captives was close to being reached.

NEW: Turkish President, on the way back from #Germany, tells the media some of the families of the Israelis being held by Hamas have written to him.

'They have requested us to intervene in the release of their relatives ... Since the Israeli families reached us through this… pic.twitter.com/KGzimxmJvW
— Andrew Hopkins (@achopkins1) November 18, 2023