The Turkish opposition news site "Nordic Monitor" explains that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent hosting of Hamas leaders in Istanbul, coupled with an unprecedented endorsement of the jihadist group, underscore Turkey’s decision to elevate relations with an organization known for perpetrating acts of terror against civilians. This move, marked by a significant reference to Turkish history by Erdogan, signals an alarming new shift in Turkey’s foreign policy approach.

Erdogan’s characterization of Hamas as resistance fighters, likening them to Kuvay-i Milliye (Turkey’s National Forces), an irregular militia crucial in Turkey’s War of Independence following World War I, marks an important turning point. This comparison not only legitimizes Hamas within the broader Turkish public sphere but also opens the door for increased support for the jihadist group from Turkish government agencies and affiliated organizations.

“I am saying it very clearly and explicitly here. During the national struggle [for independence] in Turkey, what Kuvay-i Milliye was to Turkey, Hamas is exactly that. We are aware, of course, that there is a price to pay for saying this. We know that it’s difficult to declare truth and right during such a period. But let the whole world know, understand and comprehend,” President Erdogan declared on April 17.