The Telegram: Israel Plans Terror Cells in Turkey to Assassinate Palestinians

Israel has already laid out plans to set up an operations cell in Turkey from which to carry out assassinations and terrorist acts, intelligence reports say.

The reports were leaked by western intelligence sources that are increasingly concerned that Israel might expand its carnage operations to outside targets in reprisals over the Hamas attack of October. The reports detail an effort by the Mossad to set up teams outside its territory in the wake of Israeli pledges to hunt down the leadership of Hamas. Turkey's Erdogan has repeatedly said that he will offer asylum to the Hamas leadership should it need to move out of Gaza or even Qatar.

The plans included establishing “a security branch abroad which will be capable of carrying out intelligence and military operations in the future”. The reports, which The Telegram cannot independently confirm, also allegedly described a three-year plan to set up Israeli military cells and safe houses abroad to work on “killings and assassinations”.

Assassination targets supposedly included Hamas and other Palestinian leadership figures. It is unclear whether Turkish authorities were informed of the plans or would have allowed them to proceed.

Unlike many other members of NATO, Turkey does not consider Hamas a terrorist organization and the country hosts members of the group. Ankara maintains that Israel is likely to carry out terrorist activities in the country after Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the president of Turkey, has repeatedly declared Hamas a “liberation movement” fighting for its people and homeland.

Mr Erdogan said on Sunday that Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, “has reached a level that would make Hitler jealous with his genocidal methods”.

He also said that more than 1,000 members of Hamas were being treated in hospitals across Turkey as the fighting in Gaza entered its eighth month.

In April, Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas leader who is based in Qatar, flew to Istanbul to meet Mr Erdogan. The visit was Mr Haniyeh’s first to Turkey since the Israel-Hamas war broke out last October. Just a few days ago, Ibrahim Kalin, the Turkish intelligence chief, met Mr Haniyeh in the emirate.

Last autumn, Turkey and Israel recalled their respective ambassadors in a diplomatic row over the war in Gaza.

In Turkey, it’s a matter of justice for Mr. Erdogan to oppose Israel and support Palestine, with polls showing a large majority share those views in the country.