Gaza's Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is warmly greeted by former Palestinian prisoners now living in Turkey.<br/> The Gaza leader is on a regional tour - his first since 2007- which also includes Egypt, Sudan, Tunisia and Bahrain - but not Syria.<br/> Haniyeh said he was deeply grateful to Turkey for granting residence permits to eleven former prisoners freed as part of the thousand-for-one exchange deal with Israel in October.<br/> The Gaza leader was also given a tour of the Mavi Marmara, a ship stormed by Israeli troops two years ago to stop the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.<br/> Nine Turkish citizens were killed in the raid and Haniyeh prayed with their families.<br/> The Hamas leader told a news conference later that the Arab Spring brought hope to Palestinians.<br/> (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HAMAS'S GAZA LEADER ISMAIL HANIYEH, SAYING:<br/> "The unfolding events known as the Arab Spring -- we may even call them the spring of Islam -- will support the Palestinian cause. We will see their positive effects better in the future."<br/> Haniyeh is favoured by many in Hamas to stand as a candidate in elections for the Palestinian presidency due in May.<br/> Sunita Rappai, Reuters
