US official clarifies Turkey not considered a mediator in Gaza truce efforts after Hamas leaders’ relocation

A senior US official clarifies that the Biden administration does not view Turkey as a new mediator between Israel and Hamas after US President Joe Biden earlier today named Ankara along with Qatar and Egypt as countries that will be renewing efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza now that one has been reached in Lebanon.

“What the President meant is that, we have certain individuals and parties are now spending time in Turkey, and so [Turkey] was added. But it was not to suggest that they are a broker or a negotiator. It’s to say that we will leave no stone unturned in trying to do this,” says a senior US official briefing reporters.

The US revealed earlier this month that it had asked Qatar to oust Hamas leaders from the country due to the terror group’s extended refusal to engage in hostage negotiations. Those Hamas officials then moved to Turkey. While the US has cautioned Ankara against hosting Hamas leaders, it has stopped short of requesting the extradition of Khaled Meshaal, who is under US indictment.

Arab officials speaking to The Times of Israel last week called into question the decision to oust Hamas from Qatar if negotiations were just going to continue under largely the same format in Ankara.

The senior US official briefing reporters maintains that Hamas’s realization following today’s news that “Hezbollah has decided to abandon them and delink the two conflicts” amounts to a powerful change of reality on the ground, and we have to see if that’s enough” to spark a breakthrough in hostage talks.