Report: Turkey may replace Iran as Hamas' financier

Turkey may reportedly replace Hamas' chief financier, Iran, to alleviate the Gaza ruling party's financial pain as it has faced difficulty in receiving aid from the Islamic republic. Israeli daily Haaretz quoted Turkish sources on Saturday that stated Gazan Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh conveyed his party's financial difficulties to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his first visit to Turkey and that Turkey is seriously considering funding Hamas, a party Israel and the US list as a terrorist organization. The report added that Haniyeh explained to Erdogan in some detail the financial difficulties Hamas has faced after expected aid from Iran didn't arrive on time and was significantly decreased.

Foreign aid is essential to helping Palestinians survive, including in Gaza, which, though ruled by Hamas, receives almost half of the Palestinian Authority's budget in social services and salaries. It said Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal has left Syria for good and is considering moving the party's headquarters to Qatar or Jordan. (...)