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Turkish support for Hamas

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Ismail Haniyeh with Turkish Minister of Culture Numan Kurtulmuş, 20 November 2012
Isaac Herzog in Turkey, March 2022

As part of Turkey's objective to play a mediating role in the region, the country tries to be on speaking terms with both Israel and Hamas.[1][2] From time to time, Israel has suggested Turkey to support Hamas,[3][4] while in other cases it has opposed the support.[5]

Under the conservative leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey has become a stalwart supporter of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip.[6][7]

Unlike Israel, Turkey has never listed Hamas as a terrorist organisation. In 2010, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan described Hamas as "resistance fighters who are struggling to defend their land".[8][9] Turkey hosts senior Hamas officials, including Saleh al-Arouri. Hamas head Ismail Haniyeh and former chief Khaled Mashal visit Turkey often.[10][11][12]

According to Israel's Shin Bet, Hamas has established a command post in Turkey which it uses to recruit operatives and oversee operations in the Middle East.[13] Hamas' Turkey branch reportedly takes decisions without taking into account the movement as a whole and without involving the Hamas leadership.[14][15] Hamas has reportedly planned attacks against Israel from Turkey, including the abduction and killing of three Israeli teenagers in 2014.[16] In 2020 Israeli diplomats charged Turkey with furnishing passports and identity cards to Hamas members in Istanbul.[17]

The Turkish government met with Hamas leaders in February 2006, after the organization's victory in the Palestinian elections.[18]

Israel suggesting to Turkey to support Hamas

Upon a visit to Israel from Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and Turkish lawmaker Feyzi İşbaşaran [tr] in 1998, it was revealed that Netanyahu suggested Turkey to support Hamas. Netanyahu said "Hamas also has bank accounts for aid in banks, we help them too, you [Turkey] can help too."[3][4]

2023 Israel–Hamas war

Following the Hamas surprise attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, and the outbreak of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, President Erdoğan lauded Hamas as "a liberation group, 'mujahideen' waging a battle to protect its lands and people." Erdoğan cancelled a planned visit to Israel.[19]

A day of national mourning was observed by Turkey on 2 August 2024, after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, with Turkish flags being flown at half-mast.[20][21]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Eying Gaza mediator role, Turkey cools Hamas ties, Erdogan restrains rhetoric - Al-Monitor: Independent, trusted coverage of the Middle East". www.al-monitor.com. 22 October 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Can Turkey help resolve the Israel-Hamas war?". Atlantic Council. 9 January 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Revealing Israel's Strategic Vision in Supporting Hamas: Insights from Turkish Ex-Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz's 1998 Visit". politurco.com. 12 October 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  4. ^ a b Feyzi Isbasaran [@feyzi_fyzisbsrn] (October 10, 2023). "Mesut Yılmaz/Benjamin Netanyahu görüşmesi" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  5. ^ Michaelson, Ruth (21 April 2024). "Israel's foreign minister says Erdoğan 'should be ashamed' of meeting with Hamas chief". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  6. ^ "What is Hamas? What to know about its origins, leaders and funding". PBS NewsHour. 2023-10-10. Archived from the original on 2023-10-13. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  7. ^ "Turkey, the United States, and the Israel-Hamas War". Council on Foreign Relations. Archived from the original on 2023-10-25. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  8. ^ Lazaroff, T. (May 13, 2011). "Erdogan: 'Hamas is not a terrorist organization'". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  9. ^ "Turkish FM Davutoğlu meets Hamas chief amid Israel row". Hurriyet Daily News. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  10. ^ "Hamas faces risk, opportunity from warming Israel-Turkey ties". France 24. 2022-03-16. Archived from the original on 2023-10-13. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  11. ^ "US Criticizes Turkey for Hosting Hamas Leaders". VOA. 2020-08-26. Archived from the original on 2023-10-13. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  12. ^ "Qatar, Iran, Turkey and beyond: The galaxy of Hamas supporters". France 24. 2023-10-14. Archived from the original on 2023-10-14. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  13. ^ Katz, Yaakov (8 September 2011). "Shin Bet: Hamas operating in Turkey, China". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  14. ^ "Turkey's Hamas 'bureau' - Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East". Al-Monitor. 2014-12-01. Archived from the original on 24 December 2015. Retrieved 2016-04-28.
  15. ^ "Is Erdogan closing Hamas' Istanbul office? - Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East". Al-Monitor. 2015-12-21. Archived from the original on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 2016-04-28.
  16. ^ Franzman, Seth T. (9 May 2021). "Turkey calls Israel 'terrorist' state, seeks to 'save Jerusalem' - analysis". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 2 November 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  17. ^ Gumrukcu, Tuvan (26 August 2020). "Turkey gave Hamas members passports, Israel says". Reuters. Archived from the original on 24 October 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  18. ^ "Turkish FM Davutoğlu meets Hamas chief amid Israel row". Hurriyet Daily News. Archived from the original on 2023-10-07. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  19. ^ Gumrukcu, Tuvan; Hayatsever, Huseyin (2023-10-25). "Turkey's Erdogan says Hamas is not terrorist organisation, cancels trip to Israel". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2023-11-10. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  20. ^ https://www.africanews.com/2024/08/02/turkey-marks-a-day-of-national-mourning-for-slain-hamas-leader/
  21. ^ https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/turkeys-erdogan-declares-aug-2-day-national-mourning-over-killing-hamas-chief-2024-08-01/
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