During hearings in the House Foreign Affairs Committee on US aid to Israel, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East, Dana Stroul, stated that there is no evidence to suggest that the weapons supplied by Turkey to its allies have made their way into the hands of the radical Palestinian movement Hamas. This statement comes amidst concerns raised about Turkey’s involvement in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Stroul emphasized that the US closely monitors the use of the weapons it supplies to its allies and partners. She stated, “We do not see any signs that any of the weapons supplied by Turkey have ended up with Hamas.”
On November 8th, the Deputy Head of Hamas’ Political Bureau, Saleh al-Arouri, called on Arab and Muslim countries to launch attacks on Israel, citing a “sacred duty” to do so.
Previously, Hamas accused the West of creating an “impenetrable wall” between itself and the Arab world. However, Stroul’s remarks indicate that there is no evidence to support these claims.
While tensions continue to escalate in the region, Stroul’s statement provides some clarity regarding the source and utilization of weapons in the ongoing conflict. The US remains committed to closely monitoring the situation and ensuring that its allies are acting responsibly with the weapons provided to them.
