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Turkey Denies Hosting Hamas: Concerns Over Israeli Backlash
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Turkey's firm denial of hosting Hamas reflects its desire to avoid crises with Israel, highlighting its sensitivity to regional relations by emphasizing limited visits by Hamas members
Turkey has categorically denied reports suggesting that Hamas has relocated its office from Qatar to Turkish territory, calling these claims entirely baseless.
A Turkish diplomatic source stated on Monday, “All reports about Hamas relocating its office to Turkey do not reflect reality.”
The source added that the presence of Hamas members in Turkey is limited to occasional short visits, clarifying that these visits do not signify the existence of an official office for the organization.
This statement comes amid rising speculation about Hamas potentially moving to Turkey after facing restrictions in other locations, raising questions about Turkey’s stance and its willingness to endure international pressure, particularly from Israel.
Despite Ankara’s denial, analysts believe the Turkish position underscores a careful effort to avoid additional tension in its relations with Israel, especially given the current regional instability.
Turkey, which seeks to balance its traditional support for the Palestinian cause with its economic and security ties to Israel, is aware of the sensitivity of this issue and its potential impact on strategic interests.
The Turkish statement follows Qatar’s announcement last week, which dismissed reports of Hamas leaders leaving its territory as inaccurate. Qatar also noted it had frozen mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel due to a lack of seriousness from both sides.
Levante – Agencies
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