Shin Bet chief Ronen Barr says he received instructions from the government to pursue Hamas abroad (French)
Turkish intelligence has warned Israel of dire consequences if it tries to pursue leaders of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Turkish soil, according to Turkish and Israeli state media.
The Israel Broadcasting Corporation said Turkish intelligence had warned its Israeli counterpart against assassinating Palestinian figures in Turkey, while Turkey's Anadolu Agency confirmed that Israel had been warned of "severe" consequences for any action or activity carried out by its intelligence in Turkish territory.
This comes after the head of the Shin Bet security service, Ronen Barr, spoke of directives from the government to pursue Hamas leaders everywhere after the Al-Aqsa flood operation launched by the Palestinian resistance on October 7.
In a recording broadcast by the Israel Broadcasting Corporation on Sunday, it was not clear when Barr gave it or to whom – he said the security services would seek to eliminate Hamas "in Gaza, in the West Bank, in Lebanon, in Turkey and in Qatar. It may take a few years, but we are determined to implement it."
Anadolu quoted sources in the Turkish intelligence service on Monday that they would not allow any foreign intelligence to carry out operations or activities inside Turkish territory. The sources pointed out that various intelligence services have previously tried to carry out illegal activities in Turkey.
At the same time, Reuters quoted a Turkish intelligence official as saying that Ankara had warned Israel not to harm any Hamas officials outside Palestine, including on Turkish soil.
"The necessary warnings were given to the interlocutors based on reports related to statements by Israeli officials, and Israel was informed that this would have serious consequences," the official said.
Israel has vowed to eliminate Hamas since the unprecedented Al-Aqsa flood operation that targeted settlements around the Gaza Strip, and has since waged a devastating war on the Strip that has left about 16,<> dead and tens of thousands wounded and missing.
Source : Al Jazeera + Agencies + Israeli Press + Turkish Press