The United States warned Turkey on Monday against allowing Hamas leadership to take refuge in their country, following a report from Israel's Kan Television on Sunday, which claimed that the terror group is operating out of its Turkish offices after being expelled from Qatar last week.
When asked for comment on the matter, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters that he could neither confirm nor deny the relocation but emphasized that Ankara should not be offering support to individuals who have rejected ceasefire negotiations in Gaza and continue to hold Israeli and American hostages in the coastal enclave.
"We don't believe the leaders of a vicious terrorist organization should be living comfortably anywhere, and that certainly includes in … a major city of one of our key allies and partners," Miller said during his regular press briefing, while also noting that several of the officials are under U.S. criminal indictment.
A Turkish diplomatic source denied the allegations to Reuters, stating, "Hamas political bureau members visit Turkey from time to time. Claims that indicate the Hamas political bureau has moved to Turkey do not reflect the truth."
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