ANKARA — Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Tuesday that he is considering visiting the Gaza Strip, a move that is parallel to the already strained bilateral ties.

“If the conditions allow, I’m thinking of visiting Gaza,” Erdogan informed reporters, clarifying that his foreign ministry will be working on it. “I wish to make such a visit, depending on the outcome.”

Erdogan said he would like to cross to the Palestinian enclave following a planned visit to Egypt, the date of which has not yet been determined.

A Hamas official in Gaza welcomed Erdogan’s intentions. “We welcome this visit by Mr. Erdogan, which will be historic if it goes ahead, as it shows Turkish support for the Palestinian cause and political and moral backing to break the political siege imposed on Gaza by Israel, Ismail Radwan told France Press Agency.

“This visit will encourage Arab and Muslim leaders to break the siege and visit the Gaza Strip,” he stressed.

Last month, Erdogan renewed a call on Israel to lift as soon as possible the inhumane and unlawful blockade of Gaza and allow the entry of goods, notably construction materials to rebuild infrastructure destroyed during the offensive attack ( in 2009).”

Erdogan announced his intention to go to Gaza shortly after a Turkish official voiced hope that Israel would apologize for last year’s bloodshed on Mavi Marmara.

Israel and Turkey are already in the grips of a severe crisis since May last year when the “Israeli” army killed nine Turkish activists aboard an aid ship that tried to break the blockade on Gaza.

Ankara demands an apology and compensation for the victims’ families as a condition to repair ties.

Israel’s Haaretz daily reported that the defense establishment wanted to see ties with Turkey repaired, even supporting an apology to Ankara over the 2010 raid.

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said publicly that Tel Aviv will not apologize for the raid, warning that “expressing any such sentiment would be humiliating.”

But Haaretz said that defense and justice ministry officials have in recent weeks suggested that Israel must offer an apology.