Türkiye refutes Israeli allegations of arming Hamas
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan attends a press conference, with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto, in Caracas, Venezuela February 24, 2024 (Reuters Photo)
The Turkish Foreign Ministry strongly denied accusations made by Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz, who claimed that Türkiye has been “training” and “arming” Hamas on Sunday. Katz made these assertions on his X account without providing any concrete evidence.
Katz accused President Erdogan of financing and arming Hamas terrorists to carry out attacks against Israelis. He alleged that Turkish authorities had provided training, weapons, and substantial financial support to Hamas operatives.
Is Türkiye arming Hamas?
Turkish Foreign Ministry denied arming Hamas in a statement saying that Israel’s “dirty propaganda activities and psychological operation attempts” targeting Türkiye and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan would fail. The Ministry emphasized that these allegations were baseless and intended to discredit Türkiye.
Türkiye, known for its pro-Hamas stance, has openly supported the Palestinian people through humanitarian aid. Prior to Katz’s accusations, President Erdogan had condemned Israeli actions, stating that Israel “must be punished for its actions,” and expressing hope that international decisions not implemented by Israel would lead to global awareness. Erdogan also stressed that the suffering of Palestinians should not be normalized, and that it is a humanitarian duty to “raise our voices against oppression.”
The Turkish government remains steadfast in its position, rejecting Katz’s allegations and reiterating its commitment to supporting Palestinians through legitimate and peaceful means.
