* Says relations with resistance group no longer acceptable
* Claims do not reflect truth, say Turkiye diplomatic sources
* Qatar denies expelling Hamas representatives from Doha
The United States warned Turkiye on Monday against hosting Hamas leadership, saying Washington does not believe leaders of a ‘terrorist’ organisation should be living comfortably.
Asked about reports that some Hamas leaders had moved to Turkiye from Qatar, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller did not confirm the reports but said he was not in a position to dispute them.
He said Washington will make clear to Turkish government that there can be no more business as usual with Hamas.
Miller added that some Hamas leaders are under U.S. indictment and Washington believes they should be turned over to the United States.
“We don’t believe the leaders of a vicious terrorist organization should be living comfortably anywhere, and that certainly includes in … a major city of one of our key allies and partners,” Miller told reporters at a regular news briefing.
Muslim News gathered that though Turkiye does not consider Hamas as a terrorist organisation, her diplomatic sources dismissed the reports, adding that members of the Palestinian resistance group only visited the country from time to time.
“The claims that the group has moved to the country do not reflect the truth”, the source added.
Qatar denies expelling Hamas from Doha
On Sunday, Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported that Hamas members departed from Doha to Turkiye after Qatar allegedly requested their departure.
Several media outlets had claimed that the move was due to Hamas’s reluctance to negotiate a ceasefire and a hostage agreement in Gaza.
Earlier this month, Qatar formally rejected allegations that it had asked Hamas to shut down its representative office in Doha.
However, it noted its frustration with the stalled negotiations, leading to a decision to step back from its mediation role.
Turkiye-Hamas relationship
Several Hamas members have been in Turkey since 2011 as part of a prisoner exchange deal involving Gilad Shalit.
Prominent Hamas leaders, such as Ismail Haniyeh and Saleh al-Arouri, visited and stayed in Turkey for extended periods before their respective killings by Israel.
The group has never officially established a headquarters in Istanbul.
Hamas sources informed their Turkish and regional counterparts earlier this month that the Qatari government had not made a demand for them to leave.
Turkiye relationship with Israel
Relations between Turkiye and Israel have deteriorated since the Hamas-led attack on Israel and Israel’s ensuing military operations in Gaza, which have resulted in over 43,000 Palestinian deaths.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a vocal and fierce critic of the Israeli military operation, which he has characterised as genocide, joining the South African case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
Last week, Erdogan announced that his government was severing all ties with Israel.
On Sunday, Turkish officials revealed that Ankara denied Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s plane permission to use Turkish airspace for travel to the Cop29 summit in Azerbaijan, effectively blocking the flight.
This situation has prompted a series of actions, including legal measures and trade sanctions, particularly following local elections in Turkey in March this year where Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) faced a backlash for its perceived inadequate response to the Gaza conflict.
Since September, ongoing Turkish trade with Israel via third countries and Palestine has led to pressure from the opposition, which accuses Erdogan of failing to close loopholes that enable continued interactions.
Sources: Reuters and Middle East Eye
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