Several senior members of Hamas’s leadership outside of Gaza have recently relocated to Turkey, according to Israeli state broadcaster KAN, which reported on Sunday.
This follows a confirmation earlier this month from an American source that Qatar had agreed to expel Hamas leaders from its territory. The move to Turkey is said to have taken place in recent days, according to unnamed Israeli officials cited by KAN.
The relocation could influence ongoing negotiations regarding the release of the 101 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza, as well as discussions around a potential ceasefire. It remains unclear whether the entire Hamas leadership has moved to Turkey or only certain officials.
Turkey has long been a strong ally of Hamas, a militant group that originated from the Muslim Brotherhood, with deep support from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Last week, Erdogan announced that Turkey has “severed all ties” with the State of Israel.