US denounces Erdoğan for hosting Hamas leaders in İstanbul

Photo: Presidency/Twitter

Click to read the article in Turkish

The US Department of State has "strongly objected to" President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hosting two leaders of Palestine's Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in İstanbul on Saturday (August 22).

"Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by the US and EU and both officials hosted by President Erdoğan are Specially Designated Global Terrorists," the Department said today in a written statement on its website. 

While the State Department didn't specify the names of the officials, Turkey's Presidency had said on Twitter that Erdoğan hosted Ismail Haniyeh, the political bureau chief of Hamas, and a delegation with him at Vahdettin Mansion in İstanbul.

Cumhurbaşkanı @RTErdogan, Hamas Siyasi Büro Başkanı İsmail Heniyye ve beraberindeki heyeti Vahdettin Köşkü'nde kabul etti. pic.twitter.com/R6H2bTsb2T

— T.C. Cumhurbaşkanlığı (@tcbestepe) August 22, 2020

"The US Rewards for Justice Program is seeking information about one of the individuals for his involvement in multiple terrorist attacks, hijackings, and kidnappings," the statement said.

In November 2018, the US put a bounty of up to 5 million dollars on Saleh al-Arouri, a military leader of Hamas.

"President Erdogan's continued outreach to this terrorist organization only serves to isolate Turkey from the international community, harms the interests of the Palestinian people, and undercuts global efforts to prevent terrorist attacks launched from Gaza," the statement continued.

"We continue to raise our concerns about the Turkish government's relationship with Hamas at the highest levels. This is the second time President Erdoğan has welcomed Hamas leadership to Turkey this year with the first meeting occurring February 1."

In addition to the two meetings mentioned by the US State Department, Erdoğan also hosted Hamas' Haniyeh in December 2019. (PT/VK)