Reports That Hamas Office Moved to Türkiye Not True, Turkish Source Says

 16 November 2024, Türkiye, Istanbul: A woman holds a Palestinian flag during during a march towards Imbarli Port, which is used by companies to transport military ammunition to Israel. (dpa)
16 November 2024, Türkiye, Istanbul: A woman holds a Palestinian flag during during a march towards Imbarli Port, which is used by companies to transport military ammunition to Israel. (dpa)
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Reports That Hamas Office Moved to Türkiye Not True, Turkish Source Says

 16 November 2024, Türkiye, Istanbul: A woman holds a Palestinian flag during during a march towards Imbarli Port, which is used by companies to transport military ammunition to Israel. (dpa)
16 November 2024, Türkiye, Istanbul: A woman holds a Palestinian flag during during a march towards Imbarli Port, which is used by companies to transport military ammunition to Israel. (dpa)

Reports that Palestinian armed group Hamas' office has moved to Türkiye do not reflect the truth, a Turkish diplomatic source said on Monday, adding members of the group visited the country from time to time.

Doha said last week it had told Hamas and Israel it will stall efforts to mediate a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal until they show willingness and seriousness.

It also said that media reports it had told Hamas to leave the country were no accurate.

Türkiye has fiercely criticized Israel over its offensives in Gaza and in Lebanon and does not deem Hamas a terrorist organization. Some Hamas political officials regularly visit Türkiye.



No Alternative to UNRWA in Gaza besides Israel, Agency Chief Says

Palestinian employees of United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) take part in a protest against job cuts (Reuters)
Palestinian employees of United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) take part in a protest against job cuts (Reuters)
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No Alternative to UNRWA in Gaza besides Israel, Agency Chief Says

Palestinian employees of United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) take part in a protest against job cuts (Reuters)
Palestinian employees of United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) take part in a protest against job cuts (Reuters)

The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency's work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, its chief told reporters on Monday, repeating calls for countries to resist an Israeli ban on the organisation.

Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, is in Geneva for a strategy meeting with donors after it was banned by Israel from operating there last month in what he said is one of the darkest moments in the agency's history, Reuters reported.

"I have drawn the attention of the member states that now the clock is ticking ... We have to stop or prevent the implementation of this bill," he told reporters, saying there is no alternative to the agency's services in Gaza besides allowing Israel to take them over.