Turkey continues to support Hamas as documents reveal plan to establish Hamas base

Israeli military forces discovered a secret Hamas document detailing the terror organization's plans to build a base in Turkey, according to a report in The Times.

The document was reportedly found at the home of Hamza Abu Shanab, chief of staff to Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

The document, “Founding a Base in Turkey,” contained detailed plans for issues, such as funding and staffing a Hamas base within Turkey over a three-year period. The document describes the goal of “setting up many military cells and safe houses in many countries” to train recruits for the “practical planning of sabotage and assassination.”

It mentions possible targets, including “officers and commanders in Mossad” and “influential Israelis.”

It is unclear whether the plans in the document were ever enacted, or if Hamas has any active cells operating in Turkey.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been very supportive of Hamas, even hosting several Hamas leaders.

He referred to Hamas as a “liberation movement” and recently made remarks comparing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Hitler.

In early May, Turkey announced it would end all trade with Israel because of the ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza.

Speaking at a joint press conference on Monday with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Ankara, Erdoğan rejected the designation of Hamas as a terrorist organization and appeared to claim that Turkey was treating Hamas members in his country.

“I do not see Hamas as a terror group,” Erdoğan said at the press conference. “I see it as a group of people trying to protect their own land.”

"If you call Hamas a 'terrorist organisation,' this would sadden us,” Erdoğan said. “We don't deem Hamas a terrorist organisation. More than 1,000 members of Hamas are under treatment in hospitals across our country.”

A Turkish official, speaking on condition of anonymity, later clarified to Reuters that Erdoğan had misspoken. The official stated that the president had intended to say that 1,000 Palestinians were receiving treatment at hospitals in Turkey.

In November, Turkey announced plans to evacuate wounded and sick civilians from Gaza to Turkey for treatment.

At the end of April, Turkey also announced its decision to join the South African genocide lawsuit against Israel at The Hague.