US warns Turkey not to host Hamas leaders after they fled Doha to Ankara

The US warns Turkey against hosting Hamas leaders, after an Arab diplomat told The Times of Israel over the weekend that the terror group’s senior officials based in Doha fled last week to Ankara.

Turkey has not denied that Hamas officials are now in the country, but has insisted that it is not opening an office for them.

The US says it asked Qatar to oust Hamas leaders, arguing that the terror group has refused to substantively engage in negotiations for months.

Qatar has denied taking this step due to US pressure, but has admitted to halting its mediating role.

Asked during a press briefing about The Times of Israel’s reporting on Hamas officials moving to Turkey, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller says Washington does not “believe the leaders of a vicious terrorist organization should be living comfortably anywhere,” including NATO allies such as Turkey.

Miller notes that some Hamas officials, such as Khaled Meshaal, are under US indictment and should be turned over to the United States.

“We will make clear to the government of Turkey, as we have made clear to every country in the world, that there can be no more business as usual with Hamas,” he adds.