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Washington, dissatisfied with Turkey's attitude towards Hamas

2024-11-26 16:34:53, Kosova & Bota CNA

Qatar said earlier this month that Hamas political leaders had left its territory and some of them had gone to Turkey. As Voice of America correspondent Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul, Washington expressed concern about this development and warned the Turkish government not to give them shelter.

Qatar withdrew from mediation between Hamas and Israel earlier this month and announced that representatives of the militant group had left its territory. ((Mandatory cg. US State Department))

Washington warned Turkey against harboring Hamas leaders.

"The leaders of a vicious terrorist organization should not live in peace anywhere," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a staunch supporter of Hamas and characterizes the group as a liberation movement, ((end courtesy)) and he even declared a National Day of Mourning for slain Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. Analysts say Hamas leaders have been regular visitors to Turkey.

"They have been coming and going to Turkey for years. Haniyeh, who was killed by Israel in Tehran, was in Turkey on October 7, 2023," says Soli Ozel of the Institute for Humanitarian Sciences in Vienna.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said there are no plans for Hamas to open a political office in Turkey, but Ankara insists it will continue its policy of engaging and welcoming Hamas members.

"First, Ankara will not change its position [toward Hamas]. Second, they will continue dialogue with Hamas to achieve peace. We urgently need peace and stability. And if we cut ties with Hamas, who will we talk to?" says Mesut Casin, an adviser to the Turkish presidency.

Israel has killed several members of the Hamas leadership, but so far there have been no reports of any attacks in Turkey. Israel says Hamas, which the United States considers a terrorist group, should not find a safe haven in Turkey.

“They will find the leaders of Hamas and target them wherever they are. But I must add that Turkey has warned Israel not to act on its territory. So this creates unnecessary tensions in a region full of tensions," says Gallia Lindenstrauss of the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv.

Hamas still holds more than a hundred Israelis hostage, and analysts say that although Israel has denounced Turkey's ties to Hamas, Ankara's ties remain useful to Israel. This became clear this month, when there were reports that the head of Israel's Shin Bet intelligence agency met in Turkey with his Turkish counterpart.

"Turkey and Israel communicate differently with each other in public and differently in diplomatic channels and security cooperation. This is how it has always been", says researcher Ozel.

Israelis have hailed US President-elect Donald Trump as a staunch supporter of Israel, prompting some analysts in Turkey to warn that ties with Hamas risk becoming a draw for Turkey and a source of tension with the administration. new American./ VOA