Bilirakis, Malliotaki and other lawmakers ask Blinken for an update on Turkey-Hamas relations

The lawmakers aim to pressure the Biden administration by seeking clarity on the relationship between Turkey, a NATO ally, and Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S.

Leading this initiative are Congress members Dan Goldman, Josh Gottheimer, Gus Bilirakis, and Nicole Malliotakis. The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) also played a significant role in mobilizing the lawmakers, advocating for stronger scrutiny of Turkey’s cooperation with terrorist organizations.

In their letter, the members of Congress request a classified briefing to investigate the extent of Turkey’s support for Hamas and its broader implications for U.S. security interests in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Concerns intensify in Congress

Turkey’s support for Hamas has been a frequent topic of discussion in Congress, especially following the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. Notably, 47 lawmakers sent a letter to Secretary Blinken urging action on Turkey’s ties to the terrorist group. A second letter followed, along with a resolution condemning the rhetoric of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in support of Hamas.

The new letter from lawmakers will highlight growing concerns over the possible operations of Hamas in Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus. The fear is that this area could be used for terrorist activities. As a reminder, the Mossad had previously warned about the potential transformation of the occupied areas into an operations center for attacks on Israeli and Jewish targets.

Finally, U.S. lawmakers will make it clear that their concerns go beyond Hamas’s presence in Turkey, emphasizing the risks posed by other Iran-backed organizations, such as Hezbollah, which has previously threatened Cyprus.