Turkey cuts $7 billion in Israel trade over 'uncompromising attitude' in Gaza war
USA TodayAPR 18 2024
Thirty-seven Democratic and Republican lawmakers have called on the Biden admin. to offer a classified briefing on Turkey's support for Hamas in response to reports that the group's leadership has relocated from Doha, Qatar to Ankara. Turkey is a member of NATO and a US ally.Turkey has had a formal relationship with Hamas since 2011 when Hamas figures released from Israeli prison in the Gilad Shalit prisoner-exchange deal were sent there. Hamas officials have regularly visited the country since then. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said that Hamas is a "liberation group," not a "terrorist organization."
The letter, led by Reps. Dan Goldman (D-NY), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla), and Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), said that the reports of Hamas' move to Turkey "dramatically escalate existing concerns about Turkey's relationship" with the group, which is designated by the US as a terrorist organization.Thirty-seven Democratic and Republican lawmakers have called on the Biden admin. to offer a classified briefing on Turkey's support for Hamas in response to reports that the group's leadership has relocated from Doha, Qatar to Ankara. Turkey is a member of NATO and a US ally.
Turkey has had a formal relationship with Hamas since 2011 when Hamas figures released from Israeli prison in the Gilad Shalit prisoner-exchange deal were sent there. Hamas officials have regularly visited the country since then. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said that Hamas is a "liberation group," not a "terrorist organization."The letter, led by Reps. Dan Goldman (D-NY), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla), and Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), said that the reports of Hamas' move to Turkey "dramatically escalate existing concerns about Turkey's relationship" with the group, which is designated by the US as a terrorist organization.
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