US responds to Erdoğan, who said ‘Hamas is not a terrorist organization’

AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in his speech at his party's parliamentary group meeting, had stated, “The West sees Hamas as a terrorist organization. Hamas is not a terrorist organization, but a group of mujahideen and liberators trying to protect their lands.”

A response to these remarks by Erdoğan has come from the US Department of State.

According to a report by Dilge Timoçin from VOA Turkish, the statement, which noted that 'the US position that Hamas is a terrorist organization is clear,' said, “Our position on Hamas is clear. The US designated Hamas as a ‘foreign terrorist organization’ in 1997 due to its premeditated, politically motivated acts of violence against civilian targets.”

“HAMAS TERRORISTS DO NOT REPRESENT THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE'S ASPIRATIONS FOR PEACE”

The statement, which said, “As it clearly demonstrated with the horrific acts it carried out on October 7, Hamas is committed to terrorism,” included the following remarks: “At every stage of this crisis, Hamas has further increased and perpetuated the suffering of the Palestinian people. Hamas terrorists do not represent or advance the dignity and peace aspirations of the Palestinian people.”

“ISRAEL IS DEFENDING ITSELF AGAINST TERRORISM”

On the other hand, the statement rejected the comparison between Israel's response to Hamas and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, saying, “Russia launched an unprovoked and unjust war in Ukraine to seize its neighbors' territory and expand its borders through bloodshed. Israel, however, is responding to a horrific terrorist attack carried out by Hamas and is defending itself against terrorism.”

The Department stated, “As President Biden also expressed, the attack on Israel is similar to the nearly 20 months of war, tragedy, and brutality inflicted on the Ukrainian people, who have suffered heavy wounds since Putin launched his full-scale invasion. Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they have one thing in common; both want to destroy a neighboring democracy. History has taught us this; when terrorists do not pay the price for their terror, and when dictators do not pay the price for their aggression, it causes more chaos, death, and destruction. The costs and threats to America and the world also continue to rise. We know that beyond Europe, our allies and, perhaps most importantly, our enemies and rivals are watching us. They are also watching our response in Ukraine. If we walk away and allow Putin to erase Ukraine's independence, aggressors around the world will be emboldened to try the same.”