A December 17 report in the UK Telegraph found the Turkish government is harboring Hamas terrorists in Istanbul who plan terror attacks against Israelis.
Citing Israeli intelligence sources, the report states around 11 Hamas terrorists have moved from the Gaza Strip to Istanbul in 2019; the Turkish government gives them free reign in Istanbul as long as they steer clear of government institutions.
The Hamas members in Istanbul have been planning various terror attacks in Jerusalem and the West Bank against Israelis. One example cited in the report was an assassination attempt against former Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, which the Shin Bet thwarted in February.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry told the Telegraph it was “extremely concerned that Turkey is allowing Hamas terrorists to operate from its territory, in planning and engaging in terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians.” Israeli officials also told the Telegraph this puts Turkey in violation of a 2015 agreement with Israel for Turkey to foil any Hamas operatives in their country from planning terror attacks.
A Turkish diplomatic source denied the report to the Guardian, arguing the Turkish government doesn’t view Hamas as a terror organization. A Hamas spokesman also denied the report to the Telegraph, saying it keeps its activities to “occupied Palestine.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Istanbul on December 14, at which point, Erdogan pledged to “keep on supporting our brothers in Palestine.”
In response to the Telegraph report, Barkat called on the Trump administration to implement sanctions against the Turkish government.
“This is a government just like Iran that defends and promotes terror,” Barkat said in a statement. “Despite these threats, I will never be swayed in my work on behalf of the State of Israel both here at home and all around the world.”
According to the Jerusalem Post, Hamas and the Justice and Development ruling party in Turkey “both have roots in the Muslim Brotherhood. When the Brotherhood came to power in Egypt in 2012, Turkey was a key ally of leader Mohamed Morsi. Morsi was overthrown in 2013, and Ankara was outraged. For Turkey, Hamas is one of many armed extremist groups, similar to those it has recruited in Syria that help extend its influence.”
Erdogan has frequently compared Israel to the Nazis and said in August that the Turkish government opposes all those allied with Israel.
