According to Ynet, Israel has reached out to Turkey in recent weeks, seeking its influence in mediating a potential hostage exchange deal with Hamas in Gaza. Despite Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's strong anti-Israel rhetoric, Israeli officials see Turkey's connections to Hamas leadership as a potential leverage point.
This development comes after U.S. President Joe Biden mentioned Turkey in a speech on Tuesday, saying, "Over the coming days, the United States will make another push with Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, Israel, and others to achieve a cease-fire in Gaza." However, a senior White House official later clarified that Turkey is not directly mediating but could play a supporting role due to the presence of Hamas leaders in Istanbul.
Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar reportedly made a covert visit to Turkey 10 days ago. While Israeli officials confirm Turkey's role could involve pressuring Hamas, they remain cautious about Erdogan's intentions. Erdogan has frequently criticized Israel's military actions in Gaza, labeling the country a "terrorist state committing genocide." He has also openly supported Hamas, referring to the group as a "resistance movement."
Erdogan's confrontational stance further complicates relations. Recently, he prevented Israeli President Isaac Herzog's plane from flying through Turkish airspace and claimed that Turkey had severed diplomatic ties with Israel-claims that Israel has not formally acknowledged.
This outreach to Turkey highlights the urgency within Israel to secure the release of hostages while navigating fraught diplomatic dynamics with Erdogan, who has been a vocal critic of Israel's policies. As the situation in Gaza evolves, Israel's leadership appears willing to explore unconventional channels to achieve its objectives.
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