Turkish Foreign Minister denies aiding Hamas coup plot

Turkey’s foreign minister has strongly dismissed claims that the country was involved in attempting to help Hamas topple the Palestinian unity government.

Shin Bet, the Israeli security service, announced on Monday that it had foiled a plot by Hamas to undermine the Palestinian unity government by toppling Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.

The Shin Bet said the plot was orchestrated by Saleh al-Arouri, a Hamas official based in Turkey who allegedly enjoys the protection of Turkish officials.

“It is one of the biggest [operations] we’ve seen in Judea and Samaria since Hamas’s formation in 1987,” according to Shin Bet sources quoted in the Jerusalem Post.

“They planned to carry out a coup and topple the Palestinian Authority.”

The source said Hamas planned to “launch a third intifada” and had “planned disturbances on the Temple Mount to rile the Palestinian masses.”

“They were waiting for talks between Israel and PA to collapse.”

Foreign Ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgic said in a written statement on Tuesday that it was “out of the question that our country would tolerate attempts to topple the Palestinian National Unity Government."

"We strongly dismiss and condemn such slanders."

Al-Arouri, who has been identified as founder of the Izz al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades - Hamas's military wing - has also been accused by Israel of masterminding the abduction of the three Israeli settler teens. 

In July, Faruk Loğoğlu, deputy Chairman of Turkey’s Republican People's Party (CHP), the main opposition group in the country, asked about al-Arouri in a written parliamentary question.

“Is the allegation that Hamas leader al-Arouri lives in Turkey true?” said the statement.

“If it is true, for how long and why has he been staying in Turkey? And if it is true, why has Israel asked for his deportation or extradition? What response has been given to these demands?”

It is unknown how the government responded.

Palestinian news Agency Wafa reported Mahmoud Abbas saying the news represents “a grave threat to the unity of the Palestinian people and its future” and could potentially break the unity agreement.

He also said that it could have “extremely dangerous” regional implications.

Fadi Hakura, an Associate Fellow at Chatham House, told Middle East Eye that Prime Minister, now President-elect, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the foreign minister Ahmet Davutoğlu have been known to have a close relationship with Hamas, while Abbas’s party Fatah “have traditionally adopted a cautious attitude towards the Turkish government.”

US State department spokesperson Marie Harf was questioned by reporters on Tuesday over the role of Turkey in the alleged plot.

“I think it involves some Hamas militants and cash, but let me check on that piece of it. I certainly have nothing to confirm that,” Harf told an AP reporter.

When questioned whether the US would raise its concerns with Turkey, she stated that “Turkey is also a NATO ally” but also said she would “check on” the allegations.

Israel and Turkey have enjoyed diplomatic relations since 1949 when Turkey was the first Muslim majority country to recognise the new state.

However, relations began to deteriorate after Operation Cast Lead in 2009 and hit rock bottom after the killing of eight Turkish activists aboard the Mavi Marmara, part of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla.

The event lead to Turkey expelling its Israeli ambassador and downgrading military ties with the country.

Though Israel has since apologised for the Flotilla killings, tensions between the two countries have remained, particularly due to Erdogan’s vocal support for the Palestinians.

“There's a lack of trust between both governments,” Hakura told MEE. “It looks unlikely that at any time in future they will restore full diplomatic relations between them.”

Erdogan has also been criticised within Turkey, however, for supporting the Palestinians in public while remaining cordial with Israel behind the scenes and maintaining business links.