Oded Eilam, a former head of Mossad's counter-terror division and researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Foreign and Security Affairs, warns that Turkey is gradually becoming the central base for Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood. Eilam argues Israel should not refrain from covert operations on Turkish soil, saying Ankara cannot enjoy immunity while hosting the operatives.
Oded Eilam, a former senior Mossad official and researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Foreign and Security Affairs, said on Monday that Turkey is evolving into the primary operational and political hub for Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood in the region. In remarks published through the Jerusalem Center, Eilam argued that Israel should not be deterred from conducting clandestine operations inside Turkey, because Ankara's leadership should not be allowed to feel immune while hosting the organization's infrastructure.
Eilam also assessed that Gulf states are drawing closer to Israel due to the growing influence of Iran and Turkey, but warned that Saudi Arabia is drifting away from the Abraham Accords and gravitating toward a Turkish-Qatari axis. He further cautioned that Qatar's influence over the Trump administration is tightening, driven by business and financial interests of individuals close to the U.S. president, and that Israel ultimately pays the price for this dynamic.
The assessment follows the Shin Bet's rare public naming of five senior Hamas operatives based in Turkey, as The Zioneer reported on June 21, and aligns with a broader pattern of Israeli analysts urging greater strategic self-reliance in response to shifts in U.S. regional policy.
- DevelopingShin Bet and IDF directly accuse Turkey's Erdogan of harboring Hamas terror infrastructure
- StrongShin Bet, IDF detail dozens of attacks foiled directed by Hamas operatives in Turkey
- StrongMossad: Israel more prepared, with greater deterrence than ever
- DevelopingAnalysis: Hamas is depleted but holding its fire — experts warn the quiet may not last
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