US warns Turkey of isolation from international community for cooperating

Washington: The United States has expressed annoyance over the meeting between Turkish President Recep Erdogan and the Hamas leaders. The United States has warned that the cooperation established with Hamas can get Turkey isolated from the international community. Turkey has snapped in its reaction that the United States should stop protecting Israeli interests.

In retaliation of the peace agreement signed between Israel and UAE, Turkey called a meeting of the leaders of Hamas and the other affiliated terrorist organisations from the Gaza Strip. The meeting held in Turkey, on Saturday, was attended by Ismail Haniyeh, chief of Hamas, Saleh Al-Aruri, the second in command and other Hamas leaders. At this time, Turkish President Erdogan held discussions with Haniyeh and other Hamas leaders independently. Turkey declared its support for the anti-Israel campaign, started by Hamas, in the Gaza Strip. At the same time, he awarded Turkish nationality and passport to 12 Hamas members.

The US state department strongly criticised the Turkish cooperation with Hamas, the organisation declared as a terrorist organisation. The US department of state criticised that collaboration with a terrorist organisation is taking Turkey closer to an international boycott. This cooperation could jeopardise the interests of the Palestinian people and the attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip also may increase. The US state department also reminded that the United States had reprimanded Turkey for cooperation with Hamas, also in the past. The first official meeting between Turkey and Hamas was held in the month of February. The US state department has clearly indicated that if Turkey is not willing to amend its ways despite repeated warnings, some tough decisions will have to be taken.

In its reply to the US warning, Turkish foreign ministry retorted that people criticising the cooperation with Hamas should first prioritise the resolution of the Israel-Palestine dispute. At the same time, Turkey justified the alliance with Hamas saying that the people of Gaza have elected Hamas to form the government. Attacks by Hamas and Islamic Jihad into Israel are continuing for the last 12 days, and Israel is retaliating against them.

Meanwhile, since the last few days, tension has been rising in the relations between the United States and Turkey. The differences between the United States and Turkey have increased over Libya and Syria conflicts and also over the purchase of S-400 air defence system, from Russia. Cooperation with Hamas has added further to the tension.