The United States has issued a warning to Turkey against hosting Hamas leadership, stating that Washington does not believe the leaders of a terrorist organization should live in comfort.
Hamas, a Palestinian group that governs Gaza, is blacklisted by the U.S.
When asked about reports that some Hamas leaders had relocated from Qatar to Turkey, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller did not confirm the reports but also stated he could not dismiss them.
Miller emphasized that Washington would make it clear to the Turkish government that it cannot maintain past relations with Hamas.
He also noted that some Hamas leaders are wanted by U.S. authorities, and Washington believes they should be handed over to the United States.
“We do not believe that leaders of a terrorist organization should live comfortably anywhere, including in a major city of an ally,” Miller told reporters.
A Turkish diplomatic source dismissed the reports, stating that Hamas has not moved its political office to Turkey and that group members have only visited the country occasionally.
Last week, Qatar announced it had informed both Hamas and Israel that it would suspend its mediation efforts for a ceasefire in Gaza and a hostage release agreement until both parties show seriousness in resuming negotiations.
Qatar also refuted media claims that it had asked Hamas to leave the Gulf state, calling them untrue.
“Members of Hamas’ political bureau visit Turkey from time to time. Claims that Hamas’ political bureau has relocated to Turkey do not reflect the truth,” the diplomatic source said.
Turkey, a NATO member state, strongly criticizes Israel for its military offensives in Gaza and Lebanon and does not consider Hamas a terrorist organization.
Israel aims to destroy Hamas and has been fighting the group in Gaza since October last year.
The conflict escalated following Hamas attacks on Israeli soil that same October, killing 1,200 people and taking 240 hostages.
Israel’s offensive in Gaza has resulted in over 42,000 Palestinian deaths, mostly women and children, according to Palestinian health authorities.
Meanwhile, Israel has launched an offensive in southern Lebanon to destroy the military capabilities of Hezbollah, a group that, like Hamas, is supported by Iran, Israel’s adversary.
Efforts to end the conflict have so far failed, raising concerns about the possibility of the conflict escalating across the entire Middle East.
