Is Turkey trying to bypass Abbas in Gaza?
Hamas says it has not succumbed to Turkish pressure to negotiate with Israel, but the exchange raises discussion about Turkey’s role in accelerating the peace process between the adversaries.
Although Hamas is working on maintaining warm relations with Turkey and Qatar amid frosty dealings with several countries in the Arab world such as Egypt, Iran, Jordan and Syria, it hasn’t been all good for Hamas and Turkey.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu made a sudden announcement March 22 during a meeting at the National Press Club in Washington, saying that Turkey has pressured Hamas to shift away from armed resistance and engage in negotiations with Israel and that Hamas showed readiness to recognize Israel. Cavusoglu did not specify when Turkey actually pressured Hamas.
On March 22, Al-Mayadeen website, which is close to Iran, cited a Hamas source on condition of anonymity commenting on Cavusoglu’s statements. The source said that Turkey pressured Hamas to recognize Israel, but that Hamas did not oblige.
On the same day, Hamas issued an official statement condemning the news that was being circulated in the media about its caving in to pressure to recognize Israel, and dismissing the reports as lies and false allegations.
