Donald Trump Jr. and an accompanying delegation met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul last week during an unannounced visit, sources familiar with the matter told Middle East Eye, the latter reports.

The visit was first revealed on Wednesday by Ozgur Ozel, chairman of Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), who claimed that Erdogan was engaged in “secret negotiations” with the US president’s eldest son over Gaza. 

“The protocol referred to him as a ‘businessman’, but they didn’t mention his name during the visit,” Ozel said at a rally in Istanbul.

“While Palestine is bleeding, they are doing business with Trump’s son through lobbying companies,” he added.

“On the Palestinian issue, Erdogan pretends to criticize Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but does not utter a word against the real patron of the matter, Trump.” 

A Turkish source close to Erdogan told DW on Wednesday that Trump Jr. had indeed met the president but described it as only a “courtesy visit.” The source said there was no formal discussion on Gaza or any other specific topics, rejecting Ozel’s claims.   

Although Trump Jr. holds no official role in his father’s administration, he is viewed as highly influential at the White House. He currently serves as executive vice president of the Trump Organization. 

He is no stranger to Turkey, having visited in 2016 for a hunting trip and to hold meetings in Istanbul, where the Trump Organization has a joint investment with a Turkish company in the Trump Towers project.   

Erdogan also maintains a good rapport with Donald Trump Sr. Turkish officials told MEE that Erdogan is seeking a bilateral meeting with the US president next week on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly summit. 

Ankara hopes to discuss the F-16 fighter jet deal, the integration of Syrian Kurds into the central government in Damascus, potential avenues to purchase F-35 aircraft, as well as recent tensions between Israel and Turkey over Syria and Gaza. 

Documents also show that Trump Jr. is a frequent traveler in the region, having visited Riyadh and Doha while accompanying his father during official visits to the Gulf.