Berlin, 17 November 2023 (dpa/MIA) - A large police presence will guard Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during his visit to Germany on Friday when he is expected to meet with Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

The visit is controversial due to Erdoğan's statements on the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.

The Turkish president caused outrage with several statements on the Gaza conflict in the wake of the terrorist attacks by Hamas militants on October 7 in Israel, which killed about 1,200 people.

Israel's retaliatory attacks on Gaza have killed over 11,000 so far.

The Turkish president has described Hamas as "liberation organization" and condemned Israeli military action as a war crime, accusing Israel of "state terrorism."

Hamas is classified as a terrorist organization by the European Union and the United States.

Germany, on the other hand, has said Israel's security is its "reason of state."

Several demonstrations are planned during Erdoğan's visit to Berlin, which is only expected to last a few hours.

Scholz considers Erdoğan to be an important dialogue partner on issues such as controlling immigration to Europe. The chancellor invited Erdoğan to Berlin after his re-election as president in May.

The police will deploy some 1,500 officers who will guard the areas around the chancellery, Bellevue Palace - the official residence of the German president - and the Turkish embassy, all of which will be closed to the public.

Photo: EPA