Israel charges Iran, Qatar, Turkey renewing aid to Hamas: ‘Where is the world?’

Special to WorldTribune.com

TEL AVIV — Israel has been tracking renewed foreign assistance to the Hamas regime in the Gaza Strip.

Officials said Iran, Qatar and Turkey were arranging to renew civilian and military aid to Hamas and its Palestinian militia allies. They said the foreign countries were encouraged by the Palestinian war against Israel in July and August 2014.

Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon
Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon

“It [Iran] is trying to renew aid to Hamas because it has proven itself against the Zionist enemy,” Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon said.

In an address to a counter-insurgency conference on Sept. 8, Ya’alon did not specify the foreign assistance to Hamas. But the minister said the assistance was being coordinated with Hamas headquarters in Turkey, with the second largest army in NATO.

“The overseas headquarters of Hamas is situated in Istanbul,” Ya’alon said. “Salah Arouri sits there. Where is the world on this matter?”

Iran has been deemed the leading military ally of Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Over the last year, however, Israel has asserted that Turkey was playing an increasing role in supporting Hamas’ network, particularly in the West Bank.

“Qatar and Turkey support Hamas and are members of the United Nations,” Ya’alon said. “Turkey is also a member of NATO.”

Officials said Hamas has employed its allies to prevent Israel’s freedom of action during the 50-day war. They said the international community’s defense of Hamas has undermined any war against terrorism, particularly
Islamic State of Iraq and Levant.

“Instead of coming together as an international system, for a global struggle, we are attacked, to the point that Hamas uses the international system against us,” Ya’alon said. “Is this how you manage a war on terrorism? The free world is too forgiving of terror organizations, terror entities, and states that activate terrorism.”

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