The State Department issued a statement on Aug. 25 denouncing Turkey for hosting Hamas leaders on Aug. 22.
The statement read, “The United States strongly objects to Turkish President [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan hosting two Hamas leaders in Istanbul on August 22. Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and EU [European Union] and both officials hosted by President Erdogan are Specially Designated Global Terrorists. The U.S. Rewards for Justice Program is seeking information about one of the individuals for his involvement in multiple terrorist attacks, hijackings, and kidnappings.”
The statement noted that Erdogan also hosted Hamas leaders in February and argued that his repeated overtures to Hamas “harms the interests of the Palestinian people, and undercuts global efforts to prevent terrorist attacks launched from Gaza.”
Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt tweeted, “We welcome @StateDept criticism of Erdogan’s hosting of Hamas officials. It is unacceptable for the Turkish gov to roll out the red carpet for those seeking Israel’s destruction. We urge others to similarly condemn Erdogan’s disgraceful embrace of Hamas.”
We welcome @StateDept criticism of Erdogan’s hosting of Hamas officials. It is unacceptable for the Turkish gov to roll out the red carpet for those seeking Israel’s destruction. We urge others to similarly condemn Erdogan’s disgraceful embrace of Hamas. https://t.co/7D0idsJ4Gu
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) August 25, 2020
According to Reuters, one of the Hamas officials that Erdogan hosted on Aug. 22 was Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh; Haniyeh allegedly was also a part of the February meeting with Erdogan. The Times of Israel reported that the other Hamas official that Erdogan met with on Aug. 22 was Saleh al-Arouri; the U.S. currently is offering a $5 million reward for al-Arouri’s capture. Al-Arouri is the founder of Hamas’ military wing, the Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades, according to The Jerusalem Post.
Israeli diplomat Roey Gilad alleged on Aug. 26 that Turkey has been working to provide around a dozen Hamas members with passports and identity cards.
“We have already one document that we will present to the government in copy,” Gilad said. “Judging by the last experience we had by presenting a well-based portfolio to the [Turkish] government … and getting no reply, I must say I don’t have high hopes that something will be done this time.”
The Telegraph had similarly reported earlier in August that the Turkish government was giving passport and ID cards to Hamas members; the Turkish government dismissed the Telegraph report as unfounded.
During a prerecorded video shown during the Republican National Convention on Aug. 24, President Donald Trump told Pastor Andrew Brunson, who was freed from Turkish detention in Oct. 2018, “I have to say that, to me, President Erdogan was very good. And I know they had you scheduled for a long time, and you were a very innocent person, and he ultimately, after we had a few conversations, he agreed. So we appreciate that.”
Brunson had been detained since 2016 for allegedly aiding and abetting terror groups during a failed coup against Erdogan; Brunson denied the charges.
