12/4/2023–|Last updated: 12/4/202309:38 PM (Mecca time)
Turkish intelligence warned Israel of dire consequences if it tried to pursue leaders of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Turkish soil, according to what was reported by Turkish and Israeli official media.
The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation said that Turkish intelligence warned its Israeli counterpart against the assassination of Palestinian figures in Turkey, while the Turkish Anatolia Agency confirmed that Israel had been warned of “serious” consequences for any action or activity carried out by its intelligence in Turkish territory.
This comes after the head of the Israeli Internal Security Agency (Shin Bet), Ronen Bar, spoke about government directives to pursue Hamas leaders everywhere after the Al-Aqsa Flood operation launched by the Palestinian resistance on the seventh of last October.
In a recording broadcast by the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation yesterday, Sunday – it is not clear when Bar made it or to whom – he said that the security services will seek to eliminate Hamas “in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Turkey and Qatar. It may take a few years, but we are determined to implement it.”
Anatolia quoted sources in the Turkish intelligence service on Monday that they would not allow any foreign intelligence to carry out operations or activities inside Turkish territory. The sources indicated that various intelligence services had previously attempted to carry out illegal activities in Turkey.
At the same time, Reuters quoted a Turkish intelligence official as saying that Ankara warned Israel not to harm any Hamas officials outside Palestine, including on Turkish territory.
The official explained, “The necessary warnings were given to the interlocutors based on reports related to statements by Israeli officials, and Israel was informed that this matter would have serious consequences.”
Israel has vowed to eliminate the Hamas movement since the unprecedented Al-Aqsa Flood operation that targeted the settlements surrounding the Gaza Strip, and has since been waging a devastating war on the Strip that has left about 16,000 martyrs and tens of thousands wounded and missing.
Source : Al Jazeera + Agencies + Israeli press + Turkish press
