Hamas leaders remaining in Gaza may be looking to move to Turkey, two Israeli sources told Jewish Insider on Friday.
The potential move follows reports and subsequent denials that Doha was booting Hamas out of Qatar for failing to come to a ceasefire agreement - and the officials would be relocating to Turkey.
Despite officials denying the report, an Israeli and a senator told JI that two Hamas officials had already left Qatar.
However, on Saturday, Maariv reported that Turkey's Foreign Minister Hahan Fidan denied the reports that Hamas's political burea had moved to Turkish territory: "The reports on the subject are 'gossip' that are part of an attempt by the US to pressure Hamas to agree to a deal."
Senators. Ted Budd (R-NC), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Joni Ernst (R-IA) said in a joint statement that it was “disappointing that Turkey has welcomed Hamas leaders with open arms following Qatar’s eviction of these terrorists.”
The senators called it “unbecoming of a NATO member to harbor foreign designated terrorists with allied blood and hostages on its hands, particularly ones who have already been criminally indicted.”
The potential move comes after the elimination of most of Hamas’s senior leadership, including the terror organization's leader, Yahya Sinwar.
Israel-Hamas War
Hamas started a war with Israel, which ignited regional tensions, after it broke an existing ceasefire on October 7 of last year. Hamas invaded southern Israel, murdered some 1200 people, and abducted over 250 hostages.
The resulting war, according to the United Nations and multiple official bodies, has resulted in a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Hamas-run health authorities in the enclave have claimed over 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war - although they do not distinguish between civilian and combatant deaths.