Le Monde: Ankara Senses the Danger of Israeli Targeting After the Doha Strike

SadaNews - The Israeli attack on the Qatari capital Doha, which targeted several Hamas leaders, has shocked the region and raised Turkish concerns about a sharp increase in tensions with Tel Aviv.

The French newspaper Le Monde reported that Turkey, a prominent supporter of Hamas, finds itself in a sensitive position, fearing that Israel may attempt to replicate such targeting on its soil, given that several leaders of the group are present there and continually travel between Doha and Ankara.

The newspaper mentioned that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan quickly condemned the attack on Qatar, considering it a blatant violation of international law.

He also contacted the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to express Turkey's full solidarity with Qatar, according to the newspaper.

In this context, Turkish affairs expert İzgü Akın, writing on the "Monitoring" website, pointed out that "following the attack, it is likely that some Hamas members will spend more time in Turkey," noting that Ankara is the only NATO member that does not classify Hamas as a terrorist organization.

Therefore - the newspaper says - when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Galant, who are wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes, implicitly indicated that Hamas leaders are legitimate targets regardless of their location, Turkish leaders were compelled to reassess their calculations.

Israeli internal security chief Ronen Bar had warned Hamas members in Lebanon, Qatar, and Turkey, to which Turkish President Erdoğan reacted sharply, stating that Israel "will pay a heavy price" if such a scenario occurs.

Turkey has hosted several Hamas leaders at official high-level events.

The Israeli attack on Qatar is not viewed in Ankara as an isolated incident; rather, it is considered a direct threat to a strategic ally with which Turkey cooperates on sensitive regional issues, from Palestine to Syria to Libya.

Le Monde stated that the Israeli attack on Qatar is regarded in Ankara not as an isolated event but as a direct threat to a strategic ally with which Turkey collaborates on sensitive regional issues, from Palestine to Syria to Libya.

Observers believe that the Israeli strike in Doha represents a pivotal moment in Turkey's dealings with the Palestinian issue and specifically with Hamas, as the rapprochement with the group - despite its popularity within Turkey - now carries direct risks to Turkish national security.

In light of regional transformations and Israeli military escalation, voices within research centers close to the Turkish government have called for a serious approach to the possibilities of Israeli targeting and to consider it a real threat, not just a distant possibility.