Hamas Shifts Major Organizational Base From Qatar to Turkey Amid Regional Realignment

According to a report by the pro-Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, Hamas has recently transferred a significant portion of its organizational weight from Qatar to Turkey. Three senior Hamas leaders abroad confirmed that the group has resumed holding its central meetings in Turkey, specifically in Istanbul, marking a strategic geographic shift from Qatar, which had served as the main hub for Hamas's political leadership in recent years.

The elections for the head of Hamas's political bureau were recently held in Istanbul but ended without a decisive outcome. This move reflects a broader strategic realignment in the region, as Hamas seeks to strengthen ties with the new Syrian regime, which is a Turkish ally under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The shift to Turkey may provide Hamas with greater political and media freedom and new regional operational opportunities.

While Qatar has continued to act as a mediator in hostage negotiations and ceasefire talks, Hamas appears to be diversifying its centers of power across multiple countries. This development follows a period of severe setbacks for Hamas during the recent conflict, including a dramatic assassination attempt on its spokesperson Hazem Qassem in Gaza. The relocation to Istanbul signals Hamas's attempt to reestablish its regional standing amid changing geopolitical dynamics.