US Lawmakers Call for Classified Briefing on Turkey's Hamas Ties

Facts

• Thirty-seven Democratic and Republican lawmakers have called on the Biden admin. to offer a classified briefing on Turkey's support for Hamas in response to reports that the group's leadership has relocated from Doha, Qatar to Ankara. Turkey is a member of NATO and a US ally.^[1]
• The letter, led by Reps. Dan Goldman (D-NY), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla), and Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), said that the reports of Hamas' move to Turkey "dramatically escalate existing concerns about Turkey's relationship" with the group, which is designated by the US as a terrorist organization.^[1]
• Turkey has had a formal relationship with Hamas since 2011 when Hamas figures released from Israeli prison in the Gilad Shalit prisoner-exchange deal were sent there. Hamas officials have regularly visited the country since then. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said that Hamas is a "liberation group," not a "terrorist organization."^[2][3]
• Though Qatar said that Hamas' negotiating team is no longer in Doha, it denied that the group's political office in the country had been closed or that it had been asked to leave. Likewise, Turkish officials have denied that Hamas has relocated to Turkey.^[4]
• Earlier this week, the US warned Turkey against hosting Hamas officials. There have been reports that, since Qatar suspended its role as a mediator between Israel and Hamas earlier this month, Turkey may play a heightened role in negotiations.^[5]
• Negotiations for a cease-fire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages continue to stall. Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz claimed that Hamas had changed its position regarding the end of the war, but a member of the negotiation team told hostage families that this was not true.^[6]

Sources: ^[1]The Hill, ^[2]Reuters, ^[3]Middle East Eye, ^[4]BBC News, ^[5]The Jerusalem Post and ^[6]The Times of Israel.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by The Hill. Though there have been instances in which Turkey's unique geopolitical position has benefited the US and its Western allies, Ankara should be weary of hosting Hamas. The US has already shown that it is willing to act in terms of sanctioning Turkish figures who are willing to deal with terrorists. Indeed, Turkey must act wisely and maintain the values it shares with its allies.
• Pro-Israel narrative, as provided by FDD. Hopefully, the coming Trump admin. will understand what the Biden admin. hasn't — Erdoğan is not a good ally and openly supports terror. In addition to its occupation of northern Cyprus, its hostility toward NATO-ally Greece, and relations with Putin's Russia, Erdoğan's Turkey has supported Hamas for over a decade. The US must ensure that Israel and Turkey return to their historic relationship of significant cooperation and trade.
• Narrative C, as provided by Daily Sabah. It is rather hypocritical that the US thinks it can scold Turkey for having its own geopolitical calculations when Washington hosts members of designated terrorist groups. The ringleader of the terrorist Gülen Movement lived in Pennsylvania, and the US is actively supporting PKK terrorists in Syria, which has killed scores of Turkish civilians. Nonetheless, Israel's genocide in Gaza has forced Turkey's hand, and it must support the Palestinians.
• Narrative D, as provided by Responsible Statecraft. Though Erdoğan may talk tough about Israel and nominally support the Palestinian cause, he's playing a geopolitical game to maximize Turkey's strategic position. Turkey and Israel have had many ups and downs in their relationship, and this will likely continue, though it depends on the leadership in Israel. Israeli-Turkish relations are certainly at a low point, but that does not mean that their historic relationship will come to an end.