RELEASE: Gottheimer, Goldman, Bilirakis, & Malliotakis Lead Bipartisan Letter with 39 Members of Congress To Blinken and Haines Regarding Turkey Harboring of Hamas leaders

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Representatives Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Dan Goldman (NY-10), and Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) led a bipartisan letter signed by 39 Members of Congress to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and ODNI Director Avril Haines, requesting a classified briefing on the threats to U.S. national security posed by Turkey’s growing relationship with Hamas. The letter is supported by the ADL (Anti-Defamation League), American Jewish Committee (AJC), American Hellenic Institute (AHI), Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA), and FDD Action.

The signatory list of 39 bipartisan Members of Congress includes Reps. Gottheimer (NJ-5), Bilirakis (FL-12), Goldman (NY-10), Malliotakis (NY-11), Auchincloss (MA-5), Bacon (NE-2), Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Cohen (TN-9), Davis (NC-1), Fleischmann (TN-3), Flood (NE-1), Frankel (FL-22), Hoyer (MD-5), LaLota (NY-1), Lee, Manning (NC-6), Menendez (NJ-8), Meng (NY-6), Miller (OH-7), Moskowitz (FL-23), Nickel (NC-13), Nunn (IA-3), Pallone (NJ-6), Pappas (NH-1), Sarbanes (MD-6), Schneider (IL-10), Sherman (CA-32), Soto (FL-9), Stevens (MI-11), Suozzi (NY-3), Thanedar (MI-13), Titus (NV-1), Torres (CA-35), Torres (NY-15), Trone (MD-6), Valadao (CA-22), Vargas (CA-52), and Wasserman Schultz (FL-25).

“We are alarmed by recent reports that senior members of Hamas’s leadership have relocated to Turkey with the intent of establishing a headquarters there,” wrote Congressman Gottheimer (NJ-5) and 38 bipartisan Members of Congress in a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and ODNI Director Avril Haines. “We have serious concerns about the security implications of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member hosting, and potentially aiding, Hamas, a U.S. and EU designated foreign terrorist organization. With these concerns in mind, we request an immediate classified briefing for Members of Congress on the threats to U.S. national security posed by Turkey’s growing relationship with Hamas.”

“AHI is grateful for the leadership of Rep. Goldman, Rep. Gottheimer, Rep. Bilirakis, and Rep. Malliotakis on this initiative, which will ensure policymakers are informed about the true extent of Turkey’s role in supporting Hamas. We appreciate working with them on this important issue which will help strengthen U.S. national security in the Eastern Mediterranean.”- American Hellenic Institute

“Erdogan’s support for Hamas and its campaign to destroy the state of Israel has reached new heights. Turkey has emboldened Hamas by hosting its leadership and permitting terror cells to operate within its territory. The U.S. must now make it clear to Erdogan that his deliberate facilitation of Hamas will carry serious consequences. FDD Action supports efforts to hold Turkey accountable for sanctions evasion, money laundering and terror financing on behalf of Hamas. As a NATO member, Turkey must reject Hamas and actively combat terrorism—or risk losing the benefits of the alliance.” – FDD action 

“President Erdoğan’s support for the Iran-backed terror group, Hamas, and his venomous opposition to America’s most reliable ally in the Middle East, Israel, is deeply concerning. It is no secret Hamas members have been in Turkey for some time, but it is outrageous to see reports that President Erdoğan has allowed Hamas leadership safe passage to his country. Hamas leaders deserve isolation, not legitimacy — especially from a member of the NATO alliance. American Jewish Committee (AJC) applauds Representatives Josh Gottheimer, Nicole Malliotakis, Dan Goldman, and Gus Bilirakis for shining a light on this matter and making clear the United States will not stand by as President Erdoğan harbors terrorists who continue to advocate for the destruction of our ally, Israel,” said Julie Fishman Rayman, Managing Director of Policy and Political Affairs, AJC.

Full text of the letter sent to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and ODNI Director Avril Haines can be found here and below:

Dear Secretary Blinken and Director Haines:

We are alarmed by recent reports that senior members of Hamas’s leadership have relocated to

Turkey with the intent of establishing a headquarters there, following Qatar’s announcement that

it would suspend its mediation role between Israel and Hamas.

 We have serious concerns about the security implications of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member hosting, and potentially aiding, Hamas, a U.S. and EU designated foreign terrorist organization. With these concerns in mind, we request an immediate classified briefing for Members of Congress on the threats to U.S. national security posed by Turkey’s growing relationship with Hamas. Throughout the tenure of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey’s relationship with Hamas has long been an issue of concern. Turkey has maintained relations with Hamas and openly expressed support for its mission and movement. In spite of Hamas’s heinous October 7, 2023, terrorist attack against Israel, the Turkish government has continued its unreserved public support for the terrorist group responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians, including Americans and nationals from NATO allied countries. In the year following the attacks, support for Hamas in Turkish government policies and rhetoric from top Turkish officials, including President Erdoğan, has intensified over the last year.

Top Turkish officials have also consistently offered praise and support for Hamas — an Iranian backed terrorist organization — while using every opportunity to try to delegitimize the State of

Israel. Just last month, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Hamas political leaders

in Istanbul, two days after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) killed Hamas’s leader and architect of

the October 7 massacre, Yayha Sinwar. Following that meeting, the Foreign Minister’s office

released a shameful statement that “expressed his condolences to Hamas officials on the martyrdom” of the Hamas leader. In August, while speaking at a Turkish government event in Istanbul, top Hamas official Khaled Mashaal called for the resumption of suicide bus bombings throughout Israel. Two months earlier, Shin Bet claimed it foiled a Hamas suicide bombing plot in the West Bank that was orchestrated and directed from Turkey. 

The United States has clearly recognized the problematic relationship between Hamas and the Turkish government. Recently, the Department of Treasury sanctioned three Turkish individuals and a sham Turkish charity after determining that they were in fact a part of a prominent international financing network for Hamas. Reports of Hamas’s potential relocation of its headquarters to Turkey, a NATO ally, are deeply concerning and dramatically escalate existing concerns about Turkey’s relationship with the terrorist group. With these concerns in mind, we request an immediate briefing in a classified setting to discuss the following questions: 

1. Are the reports that Hamas’s senior leadership relocated to Turkey accurate? Are the reports that Hamas intends to establish its headquarters in Turkey accurate?
2. What is the nature and extent of the Turkish government’s relationship with Hamas? Specifically, to what extent has the Turkish government or its affiliates provided material, financial, or other forms of support to the terrorist organization?
3. Does the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) have any information to suggest that Hamas has planned past terrorist attacks or is currently operating from Turkish soil or territory controlled by Turkey? This includes the Turkish occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus and Turkish occupied Syria.
4. What actions have been, or will be, contemplated by the United States and NATO allies to address the possibility of a NATO country harboring a designated terrorist organization?
5. Would the U.S. seek extradition of Hamas officials from Turkey based on the U.S. criminal charges brought against Hamas by the Department of Justice? We look forward to your prompt response.

Sincerely,

[SIGNED MEMBERS]

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