[ad_1]
by Adel Zaanoun
Agence France-Presse
GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories (AFP) – A diplomatic thaw between Israel and Turkey has created challenges for Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, which counts on Ankara’s assist, however might additionally supply it a extra “reliable” intermediary to cope with the Jewish state, specialists say.
With Turkey’s ties to Israel successfully damaged for greater than a decade, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has fostered a detailed relationship with Hamas, which took energy within the Gaza Strip in 2007.
Along with offering monetary and logistical assist to the group, which is taken into account a terrorist organisation by a lot of the West, Turkey can be residence to senior Hamas officers, together with Salah al-Aruri, a long-standing Istanbul resident.
Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh and former chief Khaled Meshal go to Turkey usually.
Erdogan is a vocal supporter of the Palestinian trigger and a fierce critic of Israel — however he altered regional technique earlier this yr by initiating an outreach to Israel.
Ties between the 2 nations had collapsed in 2010 following the dying of 10 civilians in an Israeli raid on the Turkish Mavi Marmara ship, a part of a flotilla attempting to breach a blockade to hold help into Gaza.
However Erdogan took a step in the direction of reconciliation by calling Israeli President Isaac Herzog following his inauguration in July.
He then hosted Herzog in Ankara final week, the primary journey by an Israeli head of state to Turkey since 2007, in a go to each males hailed as a turning level in bilateral relations.
‘Hamas involved’
Consultants have mentioned that Erdogan’s transfer in the direction of Israel had little to do with Palestinian affairs, and that the Turkish chief was possible motivated by a want to shore up his struggling financial system by way of improved ties with a key regional financial energy.
However Hamas will really feel the consequences of the rapprochement, mentioned Mokhaimer Abu Sa’ada, a political scientist at Al-Azhar College in Gaza.
“Hamas is worried,” he instructed AFP.
“Israel is predicted to extend the stress on the Turkish authorities. I count on that Hamas leaders will depart, maybe for Beirut or Iran, as a result of Istanbul will now not be welcoming.”
Sources concerned within the Erdogan-Herzog bilateral talks, who requested anonymity, mentioned the presidents mentioned the presence of Hamas leaders in Turkey, a longstanding Israeli grievance.
Attainable upside?
Hamas issued a condemnation of Turkey’s choice to welcome “the Zionist occupation president”, however it didn’t point out Turkey or Erdogan instantly, a transfer specialists noticed as an try to safeguard important ties with Ankara.
A senior Hamas determine instructed AFP that his group doesn’t intrude within the inside politics of any nation and desires to “protect a superb and balanced relationship with all Arab and Muslim nations, and notably with Turkey”.
Hamas “won’t sacrifice its relations with Turkey” over the Israel outreach, mentioned Naji Shourab, additionally a political scientist at Al-Azhar College.
He famous there might even be an upside for Hamas in Erdogan repairing ties with Israel. Hamas doesn’t discuss to Israel instantly, however wants an interlocutor to cope with the Jewish state.
Egypt has performed that position in recent times, notably negotiating a ceasefire between the perimeters to finish an 11-day battle final Could.
However Hamas’s ties with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi are undermined by perpetual distrust. Sisi ousted Egypt’s late Islamist president and Hamas ally Mohamed Morsi in 2013.
“Turkey is a simpler and reliable channel to stress Israel than Egypt is,” Shourab mentioned.
Hossam al-Dajani, an knowledgeable in Islamist actions, instructed AFP that Turkey may even search to retain its shut Hamas ties as a result of its assist for the Palestinians earns Ankara credit score within the Muslim world.
© Agence France-Presse
[ad_2]
Source link