Holiday Ayo - Sources inside Hamas denied reports spread by some Israeli media claiming that the movement's leadership had moved from Qatar to Türkiye.

Turkish authorities insist that Hamas officials only occasionally visit the country. But the report has sparked a warning from the United States (US) that Türkiye should not host the leadership of Hamas, which Washington designates as a terrorist organization.

Reports about the transfer of Hamas's political office, as reported by Reuters and Al Arabiya, Tuesday (19/11), emerged after Qatari authorities revealed last week that they had informed Hamas and Israel about the suspension of efforts to mediate a ceasefire and free hostages in the Gaza Strip, until the second parties show willingness and seriousness.

Qatari authorities also denied media reports that they had asked Hamas to immediately leave the country.

Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, is known to have a political bureau in Doha, the capital of Qatar.

Türkiye, which is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) military alliance, has strongly criticized Israel for its series of attacks in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.

Ankara authorities also do not consider Hamas a terrorist organization. A Turkish diplomatic source, on Monday (18/11) local time, denied reports that Hamas had moved its political offices to the country.

The diplomatic source confirmed that several Hamas political officials sometimes visit Türkiye.

“Members of the Hamas political bureau visit Türkiye from time to time. The claim that the Hamas Political Bureau has moved to Türkiye does not reflect the truth," stressed the Turkish diplomatic source.

Hamas also denied the report, calling it "a rumor that the (Israeli) occupation tries to publicize from time to time".

Despite Türkiye's denials, US authorities issued a warning to Ankara not to accept Hamas leaders on its territory.

Washington emphasized that it believes that leaders of terrorist organizations such as Hamas should not live in comfort.