Sources attributed the relocation to increasing pressure on Qatar from the United States and Israel to expel Hamas leadership.
By Hezy Laing
According to a July 10, 2026 report by Asharq Al-Awsat, Hamas has moved much of its organizational center of gravity from Qatar to Turkey over the past several months.
Three unnamed Hamas sources confirmed that the group has resumed holding leadership meetings and internal elections in Istanbul rather than Doha.
The recent inconclusive election for the head of Hamas’s political bureau in May 2026 took place in Istanbul, marking a formal shift from Qatar which had served as the primary hub since 2012.
Sources attributed the relocation to increasing pressure on Qatar from the United States and Israel to expel Hamas leadership, rather than a diplomatic rift with Doha.
A critical catalyst was an Israeli airstrike in Doha in September 2025 that killed five Hamas members and one Qatari security officer, heightening security concerns among the group’s leadership.
While Hamas maintains solid relations with Qatari officials, Turkey is viewed as a safer sanctuary where Israeli aerial strikes are not feasible due to NATO membership constraints.
The relocation coincides with intensified diplomatic engagement, including Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hosting a Hamas delegation in Istanbul on April 4, 2026.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayyain in Ankara on March 31, 2026, while intelligence chief İbrahim Kalın held meetings with al-Hayya in January 2026.
Unlike the European Unionand the United States, Turkey does not designate Hamas as a terrorist organization, facilitating this expanded presence with some senior members reportedly granted Turkish citizenship.
Concurrently, Hamas is exploring renewed ties with Syria’s new government to broaden its regional footprint beyond Gulf patrons.
This realignment occurs as Hamas prepares to transfer civilian administration in Gaza to an internationally backed committee, though it has refused demands to disarm.
The shift underscores Turkey’s growing regional influence even as it complicates relations with Israel and raises concerns in Washington regarding F-35 fighter jet negotiations.
