The US warned Turkey on Monday against hosting Hamas leadership, saying Washington does not believe leaders of a terrorist organization should be living comfortably.
Asked about reports that some Hamas leaders had moved to Turkey from Qatar, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller did not confirm the reports but said he was not in a position to dispute them.
US to Turkey: No more business as usual with Hamas
Miller said Washington will make clear to Turkey’s government that there can be no more business as usual with Hamas.
He added that some Hamas leaders are under US 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.
Turkey is widely considered to be a supporter of Hamas. The Turkish government has provided financial and political support to Hamas, and has hosted Hamas leaders in Turkey. Additionally, Turkey does not consider Hamas to be a terrorist organization, unlike many other countries.
A Turkish diplomatic source dismissed on Monday reports that Hamas had moved its political office to Turkey, adding that members of the Palestinian militant group only visited the country from time to time.
Qatar said last week it had told Hamas and Israel that it would suspend efforts to mediate a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal until both show they are serious about resuming talks. Doha also said media reports that it had told Hamas to leave the Gulf Arab country were not accurate.
“Hamas political bureau members visit Turkey from time to time. Claims that indicate the Hamas political bureau has moved to Turkey do not reflect the truth,” the diplomatic source said.
Later on Monday, Hamas dismissed the reports as “rumors the [Israeli] occupation is trying to publish from time to time.”
Turkey blasts Israel
NATO member Turkey has fiercely criticized Israel over its offensives in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon and does not consider Hamas a terrorist organization.
Recently, Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan drew parallels between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Adolf Hitler.
Erdogan slammed Netanyahu’s actions, implying that there is little difference between him and the infamous Nazi leader. He also compared Israel’s military actions in Gaza to the Nazis’ brutal treatment of Jews during World War II, implying that the tactics and severity are reminiscent of Hitler and his regime’s historical atrocities.
NATO member Turkey, which supports a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, has criticized Israel’s air and ground assault on Gaza, calling it a “terror state” and said its leaders must be tried in international courts.
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