Israeli President Isaac Herzog's recent visit to Turkey raises concerns about the Palestinian Hamas movement, which has made Ankara a political rear base, says analysts who have consulted AFP.
The Islamic group that controls the Gaza Strip, classified as a terrorist by Israel, the United States, and the European Union, considers Turkey as one of the main allies to fervently defend the Palestinian cause of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Turkey has important leaders of the movement, such as Salah al-Aruri, on its territory, and it is also a place where his political office and head of diplomacy, Ismail Haniye and Khaled Meshal regularly visit, respectively.
But now Turkey and Israel began a new reconciliation after 10 years of cold relations in 2010, when Israel's attack on the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, in order to break the blockade of the Gaza Strip in order to provide humanitarian assistance, caused the death of 10 civilians in 2010.
This diplomatic transition led to a meeting of Herzog and Erdogan in Turkey last week, where he celebrated a “turning point” in the relationship.
In the Gaza Strip, Hamas criticized the Israeli president's trip, but did not blame the Turkish allies.
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Hamas does not interfere with the internal politics of any country and “wants to maintain a balanced relationship with all Arab and Muslim countries, especially Turkey,” a senior official of the movement told AFP anonymously.
However, Turkey trusts that it will resist “Israeli pressure to expel or restrict Palestine or Hamas.”
However, Mukhaimer Abu Saada, a professor of political science at Al-Azhar University in Gaza, said internally that “Hamas is concerned.”
Even before Herzog's visit, Turkish officials, along with the leadership of the movement, referred to the problems of the future in Turkey, but at the moment they do not question their activities, and close sources from organizations residing in Turkey told AFP.
“Israel is expected to put pressure on the Turkish authorities. I think Hamas leaders will march to Nairan, Beirut, because Turkey will be less welcome.” “, says Abu Saada.
Between supporting Hamas or collaborating with the Hebrew country, Ankara seems to be leaning on the second option because it faces the collapse of the Turkish lira and the domestic economic crisis, says the expert.
In January, Erdogan said he was willing to cooperate with Israel for a gas pipeline project that he once opposed.
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In the eyes of Hamas, Turkey's support is so important that he cannot put him in danger.
Naji Shurab, professor of political science at the same Gaza University, said: “We will not sacrifice our relationship with Turkey because it is both an ally and a financial and political base.”
Egypt is currently mediating between Israel and Hamas related to the Islamic movement of the Muslim Brotherhood, which has a fierce relationship with Cairo.
Thus, according to Shurab, Hamas was able to use the rapprochement between Israel and Turkey to make Ankara a privileged partner to “put pressure on Israel” and convince him to ease the blockade in Gaza since 2007.
In this scenario, Turkey could choose an intermediate position against the Palestinian group, the analyst added. “It maintains its presence in the soil, but does not allow tangible financial, political and media activities,” he added.
Hosam al-Dajani, an expert in the Islamic movement, said that the Erdogan government should avoid a too abrupt transition to Hamas because support for the Palestinian cause is one of the pillars of foreign policy towards Muslim countries.
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