ALBAWABA - A bipartisan group of 36 U.S. congressmen has requested a classified briefing on claims that Hamas leaders, supposedly “expelled” from Qatar, are being welcomed in Turkey, a NATO ally. The Hill stated that Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines received the letter.
The legislators worried that Hamas moving its headquarters to Turkey would worsen Ankara's connections to the organization. We request an immediate classified briefing to discuss these concerns,” the letter said.
Turkey denies harboring Hamas leaders. An alleged Turkish diplomatic source told Reuters that Hamas officials rarely travel Turkey and would not settle there.
Jewish Insider, citing an Israeli diplomatic source and a U.S. senator, stated that at least two senior Hamas commanders have moved from Qatar to Turkey despite these denials.
The letter requested that U.S. officials investigate these reports and clarify Turkey's relationship with Hamas. The U.S. may extradite Hamas leaders from Turkey on criminal charges related to the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, and lawmakers also asked about material or financial help from Ankara.
Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Majed Al-Ansari said Hamas' negotiation chiefs are going between capitals.
Al-Ansari also denied that Hamas's Qatar office would close, saying that its main purpose has been to communicate between parties. This conduit helped negotiate multiple ceasefires and prisoner and hostage swaps, including women and children, in November 2023.
U.S. lawmakers have called for more investigation into Ankara's relationship with Hamas after its reported move to Turkey.
