Israeli concerns intensify after reports expose Hamas operatives receiving drone and weapons training on Turkish soil..
Hamas terrorists have reportedly been using Turkish territory in recent months to receive training in small arms operations and drone piloting, according to a report broadcast Thursday evening by Kan 11 News.
The report stated that Hamas operatives, operating under civilian identities, have been regularly attending training sessions at public shooting ranges across Turkey while also undergoing drone instruction programs that allegedly resulted in official Turkish-issued drone pilot certifications.
According to the report, the training effort significantly expands the operational capabilities of Hamas members by equipping them with advanced drone-handling and tactical combat skills that could later be used against Israel.
Israeli officials are reportedly concerned that once the training programs are completed, Hamas intends to deploy the operatives to Lebanon, Jordan, and Judea and Samaria, areas viewed as potential future fronts for attacks against the Jewish state.
The revelations further intensify scrutiny of Turkey’s increasingly close relationship with Hamas under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has repeatedly expressed open support for the terrorist organization while sharply criticizing Israel’s military operations against Hamas in Gaza.
Turkey’s intelligence leadership has hosted Hamas delegations multiple times in recent years, reinforcing accusations that Ankara has become a major political and logistical hub for Hamas-linked activity.
In April 2024, Erdogan personally met with then-Hamas political bureau leader Ismail Haniyeh in Istanbul before Haniyeh was later eliminated in an Israeli operation. Following the meeting, Erdogan emphasized what he described as the importance of Palestinian Arab unity and framed opposition to Israel as a shared regional objective.
Weeks later, Erdogan publicly revealed that more than 1,000 Hamas members were receiving treatment in Turkish hospitals, further fueling criticism from Israel and Western observers over Ankara’s relationship with the terrorist organization.
Erdogan also rejected international criticism of Hamas and openly challenged Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis after the Greek leader referred to Hamas as a terrorist group.
Turkey has additionally expressed interest in participating in a proposed international stabilization force connected to President Donald Trump’s post-war Gaza framework. However, Israel has firmly opposed any Turkish role in Gaza’s future governance or security structure due to Ankara’s growing alignment with Hamas.
The latest report is expected to deepen Israeli concerns that Hamas continues expanding its regional operational networks with the support or tolerance of hostile regional actors, even as the war against the terror organization continues.
