Israel’s intelligence services were apparently preparing to locate and kill Hamas leaders around the world after the end of the war in Gaza. The Turkish president threatens “serious consequences” if this also happens in Turkey.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has threatened Israel if members of the Islamic group Hamas are persecuted in his country. “If they take such action against Turkey, they will pay the price in a way that they will not be able to recover,” Erdoğan said on a return flight from Qatar, according to his office on Wednesday.
The state news agency Anadolu had already reported on Monday that Ankara had threatened Israel with “serious consequences” if the Israeli secret services pursued Hamas supporters in Turkey.
Hamas is not a terrorist organization in Türkiye
The Wall Street Journal had previously reported that Israel’s intelligence services were preparing to track down and kill Hamas leaders around the world after the end of the war in Gaza. Turkey has links to Hamas and they say there are also authorities in the country. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and his family have lived in the Emirate of Qatar for years. Hamas is considered a terrorist organization in Europe and the US, but not in Turkey.
Erdoğan also rejects plans to create a buffer zone in the Gaza Strip after the fighting ends. Such a plan is disrespectful towards the Palestinians, Erdoğan told the press on the return flight from Qatar to Turkey. The future after the end of the war must be decided by the Palestinian people. Israel must return the territories it occupied to the Palestinians, broadcaster Habertürk and other media outlets quoted the president as saying.
Portal reported last week that Israel had sent plans for a buffer zone to Turkey and several Arab states. According to the media, Erdoğan also said that Western countries’ support for Israel, especially the US, caused the current situation in the region.l (APA/dpa/Portal)