https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-diplomat-confirms-turkey-giving-citizenship-to-hamas-members/
An Israeli diplomat on Wednesday confirmed reports that Turkey is granting citizenship to a dozen members of the Hamas terrorist group.
“Some are in the process, some already got (the documents), but
we are talking about around a dozen,” Roey Gilad, chargé d’affaires at
Israel’s embassy in Turkey, told the Reuters news agency.
Gilad asserted that the Hamas members receiving Turkish passports were financing and organizing terror operations.
2012. (AP Photo, file)
An Israeli diplomat on Wednesday confirmed reports that Turkey is granting citizenship to a dozen members of the Hamas terrorist group.
“Some are in the process, some already got (the documents), but
we are talking about around a dozen,” Roey Gilad, chargé d’affaires at
Israel’s embassy in Turkey, told the Reuters news agency.
Gilad said Israel has evidence of the phenomenon.
“We have already one document that we will present to the government
in copy,” he said. “Judging by the last experience we had by presenting a
well-based portfolio to the government… and getting no reply, I must
say I don’t have high hopes that something will be done this time.”
Gilad asserted that the Hamas members receiving Turkish passports were financing and organizing terror operations.
Turkish President Recep Erdogan met on Saturday with a Hamas
delegation that included politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh and the terror
group’s No. 2, Saleh al-Arouri — a top military commander who has a $5
million US bounty on his head.
The meeting was harshly condemned by the
US State Department, but the Turkish Foreign Ministry rejected the
criticism, accusing Washington of “serving Israel’s interests.”