The head of the Hamas Politburo, Ismail Haniyya, has been in Turkey for more than 12 days, with his intentions still unknown. This has sparked concerns about the Hamas leadership’s precarious position in the world and their possible expulsion from Qatar. Speculations have emerged about the possibility of relocating Hamas headquarters to Ankara, although Hamas leaders have denied these claims. Turkish officials have stated that they do not intend to permanently host the Hamas leadership.
During his stay in Turkey, Haniyeh has been meeting with Turkish politicians and officials. The uncertainty surrounding when he will return has led to various assumptions. While some believe that moving the Hamas leadership to Turkey may be an option if they are expelled from Qatar, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has stated that this is currently not being considered. Additionally, a senior Jordanian source has made it clear that Jordan would not accept Hamas leaders if they were forced to leave Qatar.
The visit of Ismail Haniyya to Turkey remains shrouded in mystery, with conflicting reports about the intentions of both Hamas leaders and Turkish officials. Despite the speculation and uncertainty surrounding this situation, it is clear that the Hamas leadership is facing challenges that may require them to seek refuge in other countries. Only time will tell how this situation unfolds and what decisions will be made by the Hamas leadership in the coming days.