The United States has issued a warning to Turkey regarding its alleged hosting of Hamas leaders, emphasizing that there should be no more business as usual with the Palestinian militant group. The State Department spokesperson stated that the US cannot dispute reports of Hamas moving to Turkey and will communicate clearly to the Turkish government that such actions are unacceptable.
Despite Turkey denying the reports and stating that Hamas political bureau members visit the country occasionally, the US remains firm in its stance. This development follows Qatar's decision to suspend its mediation role in hostage talks between Hamas and Israel, leading to the closure of Hamas' political office in Doha.
The US firmly believes that leaders of a designated terrorist organization like Hamas should not be allowed to reside comfortably in any location, especially in a major city of a key partner country. Hamas, recognized as a terrorist group by the US, has been able to freely move in and out of Turkey, a NATO member, and maintain a regular presence there.
In a concerning revelation, a senior adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan acknowledged that Hamas' political leader may have been in Turkey on the day the group orchestrated an attack on Israel, resulting in casualties and hostages. This revelation raises further questions about Turkey's stance on hosting Hamas members.
