US Congress raises concerns over Türkiye’s ties with Hamas
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan received Leader of Hamas’ Political Bureau, Khaled Meshaal at the Presidential Complex, Ankara, Türkiye, Sept. 14, 2015 (Photo via Turkish Presidency)
The U.S. Congress has raised significant concerns regarding Türkiye’s relationship with Hamas. A group of lawmakers has called on the U.S. government to address how Türkiye’s hosting of Hamas leaders undermines NATO unity and threatens Israel’s security.
They have also requested a classified briefing on the security risks posed by Türkiye’s ties to Hamas.
The letter, led by U.S. Representatives Josh Gottheimer, Gus Bilirakis, Dan Goldman and Nicole Malliotakis, was signed by both Democratic and Republican members of Congress.
In a written statement, the lawmakers argued that Türkiye’s hosting of Hamas leaders highlights how President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s actions weaken NATO’s cohesion and compromise Israel’s security.
According to Representative Gottheimer’s website, the letter received support from several organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the American Jewish Committee (AJC), the American Hellenic Institute (AHI), the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA), and the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD).
The letter also referred to a meeting between Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Hamas political leaders in Istanbul last October. Following the meeting, a statement was released expressing condolences for the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, killed in clashes with Israeli soldiers in Gaza.
The letter cited Israel’s Shin Bet intelligence agency, which claimed that a suicide attack planned by Hamas in the West Bank, allegedly orchestrated from Türkiye, had been thwarted.
The U.S. lawmakers pointed out that the government is aware of the “troubled relationship” between Hamas and the Turkish government, noting that three individuals were sanctioned in response.
They also raised concerns about reports that Hamas may be relocating its office to Türkiye, which they described as deeply troubling and a significant escalation of worries over Türkiye-Hamas relations.
While both Hamas and the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs have denied rumors of Hamas’ office relocating to Türkiye, the letter called for answers to several questions during the requested classified briefing.
