Hamas wary of improved Turkey-Israel ties
Many within Hamas are quietly disappointed that Islamist ally Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan may be pursuing reconciliation with Israel.
Hamas has remained silent about the possibility of a rapprochement between Israel and Turkey, but within the movement, mixed views remain.
“[Hamas] does not want to interfere in the Internal affairs of an ally country like Turkey,” a Hamas official told Al-Monitor. This official was slightly more optimistic than some of his peers, expressing hope that a possible Turkish-Israeli rapprochement would lift the blockade on Gaza and reduce the restrictions imposed on the entry of supplies. Hamas is largely confident it will not be the victim of any rapprochement between Turkey and Israel, and that Israel will not be able to impose a rupture of links with Hamas on Turkey.
This view is in line with the widespread impression among Hamas that relations with Turkey are governed by Ankara’s domestic and international calculations, and reflects its national interests. Also, the support for the Palestinian cause on the political and humanitarian levels stems from a wide spectrum of Turks, even if Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan backs Hamas only due to the Islamist background of his Justice and Development Party (AKP).
Hamas seems reassured that any rapprochement between Turkey and Israel will not be concluded at the expense of Erdogan’s stand toward Gaza, because this stand provides him with a portal to the Arab region and helps him play a key role in the surrounding regional environment. Erdogan may avoid explicit support for Hamas for fear of getting into a confrontation with the United States and Israel.
