U.S. Warns NATO Ally Turkey on Hosting Indicted Hamas Leaders After Reported Qatar Exit

Nov 18, 2024, 04:14 PM

Reports have emerged that senior Hamas officials, including Khalil al-Hiya, have left Qatar and relocated to Turkey, a NATO member country. Israeli media outlets, including Channel 11 Israel, reported that Hamas leaders residing in Qatar have departed for Turkey after Doha allegedly asked them to leave following U.S. pressure due to stalled ceasefire negotiations with Israel. U.S. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that several Hamas leaders are under U.S. indictment and should be turned over to the United States, emphasizing that leaders of a terrorist organization should not live comfortably anywhere. Turkey and Hamas have denied these reports, with Turkish diplomatic sources stating that Hamas officials only visit the country occasionally and have not moved their political office there. Hamas officially denied the relocation, calling the reports 'merely rumors that Israel tries to spread from time to time.' Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Majed Al-Ansari, stated that the Hamas office in Doha has not been permanently closed and that Hamas leaders are moving between different capitals.