Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosts a Hamas delegation in Ankara

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received on Wednesday a delegation from Hamas at the presidential complex in the capital, Ankara.

According to a statement issued by the Turkish presidential communication department, the Hamas delegation was headed by Mohammed Darwish, head of the movement's leadership council.

From the Turkish side, the meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, and head of the presidential liaison department, Fahrettin Altun.

Erdoğan's foreign and security policy adviser Akif Çatay Kilic and President Hasan Doğan's private secretary were also present.

Turkey, along with Qatar, have agreed to take in Palestinian prisoners convicted of murder who were released and deported to Egypt as part of the Israel-Hamas hostage-ceasefire deal, two officials told The Times of Israel.

Israel had insisted that those convicted of the most serious crimes not be sent to Gaza or the West Bank. Egypt initially agreed to temporarily host 70 such individuals, who are currently residing in Cairo.

According to a regional official and an Arab diplomat familiar with the negotiations, Turkey will take in around 15 of these Palestinians, while Qatar is expected to receive the rest. Discussions are ongoing, and another country may be asked to host additional prisoners released in later stages of the deal.