Concern among the Palestinian group Hamas over the rapprochement between Turkey and Israel

Israeli President Isaac Herzog's recent visit to Turkey raises concern, but also some hope, in the Palestinian Hamas movement, which has Ankara as a political rear base, analysts consulted by AFP say.

The Islamist group that controls the Gaza Strip, classified as terrorist by Israel, the United States and the European Union, considers Turkey to be one of its main allies for the ardent defense of the Palestinian cause of its president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkey hosts in its territory some important leaders of the movement such as Salah al-Aruri. It is also a regular place of visit by those responsible for his political office and diplomacy, Ismail Haniyeh and Khaled Meshal respectively.

But now, Turkey and Israel began a new rapprochement after a decade of cold relations caused by the deaths in 2010 of ten civilians in the Israeli attack on the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, which sought to break the blockade of Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid.

This diplomatic turn resulted in a meeting in Turkey last week between Herzog and Erdogan, who celebrated a “turning point” in their relations.

In Gaza, Hamas criticized the Israeli president's trip, but without reproaching his Turkish ally.

- Pressures -

Hamas does not interfere with the internal politics of any country and wants to “preserve a good and balanced relationship with all Arab and Muslim countries, and particularly with Turkey,” a senior official of the movement told AFP under anonymity.

Trusting, however, that Turkey will resist “Israel's pressure to expel or restrict Palestinians or Hamas”.

But internally, “Hamas is concerned,” says Mukhaimer Abu Saada, a professor of political science at Gaza's Al Azhar University.

Even before Herzog's visit, Turkish officials addressed with the leadership of the movement the issue of their future in Turkey, although without questioning their activities for now, a close source of the organization resident in Turkey told AFP.

“Israel is expected to increase pressure on the Turkish authorities. I presume that Hamas leaders will march, perhaps to Beirut or Iran, because Turkey will be less welcoming,” says Abu Saada.

Between supporting Hamas or cooperating with the Hebrew country, Ankara seems to be leaning towards the second option because it faces the collapse of the Turkish lira and a domestic economic crisis, the expert says.

In January, Erdogan said he was willing to cooperate with Israel on a gas pipeline project that he had once opposed.

- Take advantage of -

In Hamas's eyes, Turkey's support is too important to risk.

The group “will not sacrifice its relations with Turkey because it is an ally and a financial and political base,” says Naji Shurab, another professor of political science at the same Gaza university.

Egypt is currently mediating between Israel and Hamas, linked to the Islamist movement of the Muslim Brotherhood, which is currently in turbulent relationship with Cairo.

Therefore, according to Shurab, Hamas could try to take advantage of the rapprochement between Israel and Turkey to make Ankara a privileged partner who could also “put pressure on Israel” and convince it to ease the blockade in Gaza since 2007.

In this scenario, Turkey could opt for an intermediate position vis-à-vis the Palestinian group “maintaining its presence on its soil but not allowing its tangible financial, political and media activities”, adds the analyst.

Erdogan's government should also avoid too abrupt a shift to Hamas, because support for the Palestinian cause is one of the pillars of its foreign policy towards Muslim countries, says Hosam al-Dajani, a specialist in Islamist movements.

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