Special to WorldTribune.com

ANKARA — Hamas has been coordinating with its leading ally in NATO amid the Gaza Strip war with Israel.

Turkish sources said Hamas Executive Council leader Khaled Masha’al has been consulting with Ankara to form a strategy against Israel.

The sources said the government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has pledged political and financial support for Hamas, which disbanded its government in the Gaza Strip in June.

“While Israel is bombarding defenseless Palestinian people in Gaza, Turkey cannot remain silent and impartial,” Erdogan said on July 9.

The sources said Masha’al has been conducting frequent telephone conversations with Erdogan amid the war with Israel. They said Masha’al was briefing the prime minister on the damage from Israeli air strikes and urging Turkey to protest the war.

Masha’al has also been consulting with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Israeli operations in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Hamas said it asked Davutoglu to organize an international campaign against Israel.

Israel has deemed Turkey, with the second largest army in NATO, as the
biggest Western supporter of Hamas.

The Israel Security Agency has asserted that Turkey was hosting a Hamas operational chief, Salah Al Arouri.

  Ahmet Davutoglu, financial support from Turkey’s Erdogan, Gaza Strip, Hamas chief said to urge anti-Israel PR drive in frequent phone calls with Turkey’s Erdogan, Khaled Masha’al, Recep Tayyip Erdogan